Two Seymour residents were arrested Sunday afternoon on State Road 135 on the southwest side of Brownstown after deputies found a quarter pound of methamphetamine and other paraphernalia during a felony traffic stop.

Cory M. Cowles, 23, and Jose Sanchez Ortiz, 36, both face charges of dealing methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a Level 3 felony; obstruction of justice and resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, both Level 6 felonies; and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor, according to a news release from Lt. Adam Nicholson with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

Cowles also faces a Level 6 felony charge of probation violation warrant and Sanchez Ortiz was wanted on Class A misdemeanor warrant.

Nicholson, the sheriff’s department’s public information, said in a new release that at approximately 4:35 p.m., Jackson County Officer Mitch Ray reported he had located a silver Chevrolet Trailblazer travelling north in the 700 block of South State Road 135.

A check showed Cowles, who was the vehicle’s registered owner, had an active warrant for his arrest out of the Jackson Circuit Court.

Ray said when he activated his emergency lights and attempted to make a traffic stop, the vehicle continued north at a slow rate of speed and did not immediately stop.

As the vehicle continued north, Ray reported seeing items being thrown out the passenger window before the vehicle eventually stopped on State Road 135 near First Street on the southwest side of Brownstown.

Ray and Brownstown Officer Natalie Boling conducted a felony stop on the vehicle ordering the driver, Cowles, and Sanchez Ortiz, the passenger, out of the vehicle.

Felony stops also are known as high-risk stops because of the possibility of violence, Nicholson said.

Jackson County Officer Kevin Settle and his K-9 Partner Zanko. The dog was deployed for a free air sniff of the vehicle and showed a positive alert to the odor of illegal narcotics emitting from the vehicle.

A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, and a small amount of suspected methamphetamine was located on the passenger floorboard.

Settle and Zanko then responded to the area where Ray had seen the items thrown from the passenger window. During the search, Zanko located a bag containing approximately 118 grams of suspected methamphetamine and a glass pipe.

County Reserve Officer Greg Murphy assisted with the stop and investigation, which is ongoing. Under the law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendants is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.