Two Jennings County residents were arrested early Tuesday following a traffic stop in North Vernon.

William R. Kinman, 47, of North Vernon, faces a Level 6 felony charge of operating while being convicted as a habitual traffic offender for life.

That charge occurred after the pickup he was driving was stopped by North Vernon Officer Matt Staples. The location of the stop was not available Tuesday afternoon.

One of three passengers in the pickup, Penelope S. Leonard, 43, of Scipio, was arrested on several drug charges after a police dog was brought to search the truck, according to a news release from the North Vernon Police Department. The other passengers were not arrested.

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The incident began at 1:10 a.m. Tuesday when Staples reported seeing a pickup driver commit a traffic violation.

After he pulled the pickup over, Staples learned of Kinman’s habitual traffic violator conviction. That conviction stems from a sentence handed down in Grant Superior Court after an April 16, 2009, incident, according to court documents.

Sgt. Andrew Richmond and his police dog Heroes arrived to assist with the stop at Staples’ request. The dog alerted officers to the possibility of drugs in the pickup.

Leonard searched the vehicle and arrested Leonard on charges of possession of methamphetamine and violation of the Legend Drug Act, both Level 6 felonies. She also faces charges of possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia.

Leonard and Kinman were booked into the Jennings County Jail and remained there Tuesday pending their initial hearings.