WASHINGTON TWP — A Westmoreland County man is in Butler County Prison on more than a dozen charges after ingredients to make methamphetamine were found in his sport utility vehicle.

State police vice officers Thursday stopped Ralph G. Myers’ SUV on Route 38 near Washington Road in Washington Township.

Police were looking for the 37-year-old suspect, of East Vandergrift, after they learned he was allegedly making and selling the highly addictive stimulant in the North Washington area, according to court documents.

He was arrested following the traffic stop. Police noted that he initially did not stop when officers activated their emergency lights.

He denied he had anything illegal in the vehicle, police said, and allowed officers to search it. A search of the SUV turned up a number of materials used in common meth-making recipes.

Among the items seized were lithium batteries, Zippo lighter fluid, starter fluid and a cold pack containing ammonium nitrate. Police described the items as “precursors” for the making of methamphetamine.

Near the SUV and belonging to Myers, documents said, was a pill bottle containing suspected meth and two hydrocodone pills, a narcotic painkiller.

Authorities believe he threw the bottle out the window before being pulled over.

Police also suspected the defendant was high on drugs. He was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital, where a drug recognition expert evaluated him and ruled he was impaired. He refused a blood test.

Myers was arraigned on felony charges of manufacturing a controlled substance, possessing and illegally storing chemicals and other precursors with intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

Additionally, he was arraigned on misdemeanor charges of possessing a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, illegal possession of ephedrine, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence and resisting arrest.

Police also cited him for driving with a suspended license, driving an unregistered vehicle, failing to keep right, disregarding traffic lanes and careless driving.

He is being held in the county prison on $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for 2 p.m. Nov. 8 at the office of District Judge Lewis Stoughton in Chicora.