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Harlan County Sheriff’s Deputy Mitch Alford says he found various drugs inside a vehicle following a traffic stop Saturday night in Harlan.

Alford arrested Kevin Shephard and Jason Gilbert on several charges.

While patrolling in the Sunshine community, Alford said he and Deputy Chris Brewer were nearly hit head-on by the 1999 Jeep Cherokee operated by Shephard, 39, of Baxter, that was allegedly traveling on the wrong side of the road.

Alford said he then turned on the Jeep, “which appeared to be traveling at a high-rate of speed,” and initiated a traffic stop just off the U.S. 421 Bypass in front of the Harlan Funeral Home.

“Mr. Shephard seemed to be overly excited and anxious,” Alford said. “He had small constricted pupils and showed impairment on one-leg stand and walk and turn tests. Mr. Shephard gave consent to search the vehicle.”

K-9 unit Ice assisted in the search.

Alford said a small baggie of white powdery residue was found in “plain view” partially under a seat. Alford said he also found a pill bottle wrapped in tape with a piece of Velcro attached hidden under the dash with eight whole green rectangular pills and five partial pills believed to be Xanax and one and half yellow rectangle pills believed to be Xanax. In another same type of pill bottle attached under the dash, Alford said it contained three blue round pills believed to be Roxicodone and 19 light blue pills believed to be Roxicodone. A quantity of cash was also seized.

Shephard was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence, reckless driving, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first-degree trafficking a controlled substance, third-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Gilbert, 24, of Baxter, was a passenger in Shephard’s vehicle. Alford said while searching Gilbert, he found rolling papers in his right sock.

“Rolled up in a small clear baggie was a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine,” Alford said. “Neither the driver or passenger wanted to take ownership of the items found.”

Gilbert was charged with two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, one count of third-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication.

Shephard and Gilbert were lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center.

Alford and Brewer were assisted at the scene by Sgt. Miron Southerland, deputies Danny Lewis and Dee Dee Ulbrich; Harlan City Police Sgt. Mike Boggs and Loyall City Police Officer Denny Jones.

Alford had the Jeep impounded by Pennington’s Wrecker Service.