WARSAW — Two people were arrested following a pursuit that subsequently lead to drugs being found after a vehicle tried to flee law enforcement.

John Michael Arthur, 30, 6704 N. Kalorama Road, Leesburg, is being charged with resisting law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine, level 6 felonies; carrying a handgun without a license, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana with a sentence enhancement and theft, class A misdemeanors.

Kayla Miranda Hepburn, 23, 116 S. Cleveland St., Warsaw, is being charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony, possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor, and possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Dec. 22 the Claypool town marshal was traveling north on Buffalo Street, Warsaw, when a Ford Taurus made an improper lane change and the officer had to swerve to avoid a collision. The officer ran the registration plate and found the plate had been reported stolen on Nov. 16.

The affidavit states that when the Taurus pulled into a Marathon gas station, the officer activated his emergency lights to make a traffic stop. At this time the vehicle accelerated down Detroit Street and the officer activated his siren. It is noted the vehicle disregarded a stop light at Detroit and Market Streets and narrowly avoided a collision with another vehicle.

The officer pursued the vehicle at a high rate of speed. Eastbound on Market Street, the vehicle disregarded stop signs at Scott, Bronson and Argonne Streets and reached 78 mph in a 30 mph zone. The vehicle struck a mailbox, drove into the Wagon Wheel Theater parking lot and ran into bushes, stopping the vehicle.

According to the affidavit, the officer approached the vehicle and removed the driver, identifying him as Arthur and the passenger as Hepburn. Arthur advised there was a handgun in the backseat of the vehicle and stated he did not have a permit to carry it.

The officer searched the vehicle and found a .22 caliber Heritage revolver in the backseat. In a McDonald’s bag the officer found a clear glass smoking device and several small baggies that contained a white crystal-like substance that field tested positive for meth. One of the baggies contained five green rectangular pills that were identified as alprazolam, a schedule IV controlled substance.

The affidavit states the in Hepburn’s purse officers found a bag containing three different types of pills. On of the pills was identified as tramadol, a schedule IV controlled substance. Hepburn did not have a tramadol prescription. Officers also found an eye glass case the contained marijuana.

In the trunk officers found a backpack containing a glass pipe and digital scales with residue that field tested positive for meth, a metal grinder that contained a green plant material and paperwork that belonged to Hepburn.