SILVERHILL, Alabama -- A Baldwin County couple is facing charges after Silverhill police found drugs and weapons in their vehicle during a routine traffic stop on Monday, Feb. 27.

According to a release issued Wednesday by Silverhill Police Chief Kevin Brock, SPD observed a suspicious vehicle on Bohemian Hall Road occupied by a white male and female. The vehicle was driving extremely slow and pulled into a driveway.

Brock initiated a stop on the vehicle. Upon approach, he immediately noticed a shotgun with a pistol grip stuck between the console and the passenger seat. Brock and Reserve Officer Christopher Carlson instructed both individuals to exit the vehicle.

“The male had a large hunting knife sheathed on his side,” according to the release. The driver said he was “looking for a friend for gas money.”

Upon doing a safety pat-down, the male also had seven shotgun shells in his pocket. Brock did an inquiry on the shotgun that revealed it as stolen from Mobile.

The white male was then handcuffed and placed in the patrol car. Upon further investigation, Brock found in the vehicle, a small bag of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia including a syringe, and more shotgun shells.

Timothy Ponder, 27, of Fairhope, and Kristen Bennett, 26, of Orange Beach, were both arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Ponder was also charged with the stolen firearm.

“We have been on high alert for possible home invasions and burglaries,” Brock said. “We have been having a lot of businesses, homes and vehicles broken into.”

According to jail records, Ponder was arrested by the Fairhope Police Department on Feb. 25 on two counts of possession of a controlled substance charges, along with charges of possession of a concealed weapon without a permit and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released that same day on a $500 bond. He is currently in jail on a $21,000 bond. Bennett shows no prior arrests on the jail website. She is in jail on a $20,500 bond.

“Our main purpose is to protect the community. Anything that looks out of the ordinary is going to get checked,” Brock said. “These individuals were armed and dangerous and could have easily been targeting this community for a home invasion. At this level, it could have meant injury or even worse to one of our on. I chalk this up as one for the good guys.”