Officers with the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department arrested three people who were found to be in possession of drugs after a brief chase involving a police dog early Tuesday.

According to a news release from the sheriff’s department, Officer Cody Low pulled over a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu for a traffic violation at 12:30 a.m.

As the officer approached the vehicle, the driver, later identified as Jeremy Mahoney, 33, of North Vernon, fled on foot.

With the help of fellow county Officer Doug Brown, Low deployed his canine, Axel, in an attempt to find Mahoney. 

Axel tracked him for about a half-mile through several yards and along a soybean field before officers were able to catch and arrest Mahoney.

Two passengers, Joshua Fugate, 24, of North Vernon and Ashley McFall, 25, of North Vernon, remained in the vehicle and were arrested after Axel conducted a sniff search of the vehicle and located numerous smoking devices, methamphetamine and syringes, police said.

Mahoney, Fugate and McFall were arrested and transported to the Jennings County Jail in North Vernon, where they are currently being held.

Fugate was charged with Level 6 felony charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of a syringe and a misdemeanor charge of possession of paraphernalia.

McFall was charged with possession of a syringe.

Mahoney also was charged with possession of a syringe and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.