BENTON – One person was arrested on drug-related charges and another cited after a Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy pulled their vehicle over for a traffic violation on East Webster Street in Benton early Wednesday morning.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Kyle Bacon, 33-year-old Kenneth Z. Johnson of West Frankfort was arrested and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Deliver, and Unlawful Possession of Adult Use Cannabis in a Motor Vehicle. He was taken to and lodged in the Franklin County Jail.

The driver of the vehicle Johnson was a passenger in, 33-year-old Christine M. Webber of Benton, received a traffic citation for Operating a Vehicle with Expired Registration.

Sheriff Bacon says during the traffic stop, K9 Vader conducted a free air sniff around the exterior of the vehicle that yielded a positive response. As a result, a search of the vehicle and occupants was conducted.

Johnson was found to be in possession of a glass pipe commonly used to ingest methamphetamine, digital scales, cannabis, and multiple glass vials each containing an amount of crystalline substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. He was then placed under arrest and charged with his offenses.

Deputies were assisted on the stop by officers from the Benton Police Department.