An early-morning traffic stop uncovered drugs, a handgun and the beginnings of a meth lab in a Steuben County motel room, police said.

The Steuben County Sheriff’s Department stopped a vehicle on Indiana 120 near County Road 50 West for a traffic violation about 3:30 a.m. Friday. During the stop, the deputy’s dog signaled to police that there were narcotics in the vehicle, police said.

Police found methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription pills, paraphernalia and a handgun in the vehicle, a report said.

Joshua Hardy, 22, of Hamilton, was arrested on felony charges of possession of methamphetamine with a firearm, possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor marijuana possession.

Police also arrested Jesse Powell, 20, of Angola, on felony charges of methamphetamine possession, possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor marijuana possession.

After Powell was arrested, he gave police the key to a room at a nearby motel and asked that it be returned to the manager. When officers returned the key, the manager went to the room and could smell a strong chemical odor, police said.

The room was eventually searched, and officers found numerous chemicals and items used to make meth, and they also found marijuana, police said.

Powell was then charged with possession of two or more precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. He was being held in lieu of $40,000 bail, police said.

Hardy was being held in lieu of $32,500 bail, police said.