Two men traveling on mopeds near Papakeechie Lake violated traffic laws and found themselves behind bars on drug charges.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Kellar was patrolling the Papakeechie Lake area near Syracuse at about 2:24 a.m. Thursday when he observed the men, later identified as Jason Michael Thorn 28, of North Webster, and Gary Steven Kirkwood, 36, of Syracuse, on CR 1000 North.

Keller initiated a traffic stop when one of the men continued on behind a residence in the 9000 block of Sandpoint Drive. The deputy noted the odor associated with the presence of methamphetamine production immediately on both individuals as other deputies arrived to assist.

Thorn and Kirkwood were both found to have active warrants and were taken into custody. At that time, officers located items associated with the production and manufacture of methamphetamine, along with items of paraphernalia.

Thorn was transported to the Kosciusko County Jail and preliminarily arrested for felony manufacturing of methamphetamine along with a civil body attachment warrant. He is being held on $10,000 bond by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.

Kirkwood was also transported to the Kosciusko County Jail and preliminarily charged with felony possession of paraphernalia with a bond of $2,000. Kirkwood is also being held for Elkhart County on a probation violation warrant.

The Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team was called to the scene after county deputies discovered an HCL generator used in the production of methamphetamine under the seat of the moped operated by Thorn.