A Dowagiac woman is in custody after police discovered she had been driving a stolen vehicle from Arkansas late Friday evening outside of Lawrence in Van Buren County, according to a news release from Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the release, a Van Buren deputy was on patrol on County Road 681 in Lawrence Township when he spotted a suspicious vehicle near the intersection of CR 681 and Red Arrow Highway. As the officer pulled behind the car, a red 2002 four-door Pontiac Sunfire, the driver immediately pulled into a gas station parking lot and appeared to try eluding police pursuit.

When the officer ran the car’s license plate number through the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) and the National Criminal Information Center (NCIC), he discovered that the Sunfire had been reported stolen out of Little Rock, Arkansas, on Sept. 9. This fact was confirmed by the Little Rock Police Department.

Police then stopped the vehicle, detaining the 36-year-old suspect (whose name is being withheld pending arraignment) and her two male passengers. A search of the vehicle by the Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit discovered suspected heroin, suspected methamphetamine, Hydrocodone, as well as drug paraphernalia.

The suspect was arrested on suspicions of possessing a stolen motor vehicle, and transported to Van Buren County Jail in Paw Paw, where she was booked without incident.

The two passengers were questioned and released by police.

In addition to the stolen vehicle charge, the suspect may face charges related to the drugs found at the scene.

Assisting Van Buren County deputies were officers with the Hartford Police Department.