Two Columbus men were arrested in Johnson County after being pulled-over in a stolen vehicle.

Johnson County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Ashley, Jr. says, that at 1:28 a.m. on Wednesday, he was on a routine patrol, driving south on US 31 in

front of Franklin Middle School when he saw vehicle headed north with no headlights. The deputy turned around and pulled the car over at US 31 and Mallory Parkway.

Deputy Ashley spoke with the driver, 45-year-old David Ward, of 311 Hege Ave., and his two passengers. Ward allegedly told the deputy that his license was suspended. As the deputy ran the vehicle’s license plates, Ward reportedly informed him that the plates were false. This led Deputy Ashley to check the car’s VIN, when he learned that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Bartholomew County. When informed of this fact, Ward reportedly stated that he got the car from a family member in Columbus and that he didn’t know it was stolen.

As deputies were searching the car, they allegedly found a crack pipe with white residue in the front drivers side floor, as well as a set of digital scales.

One of the passengers allegedly gave authorities a fake name. Deputies ultimately learned that his real name is Nathan Shepherd, 29, of 3570 Nicholas Lane. Authorities determined that he was wanted on two warrants out of Bartholomew County and placed him under arrest for those warrants, as well as on a charge of False Informing. The second passenger was released.

Ward was arrested on preliminary charges of Theft, Driving While Suspended and Possession of Paraphernalia. He was booked on $3,200 cash bound.