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Sanilac County Sheriff's Deputies Shelly Park and Ed Jarosz were on patrol Sunday around 1:20 a.m. when they spotted a pickup truck with a headlight out.

When they stopped the 1997 Dodge on Howard Avenue north of M-90, "it turned out to be anything but routine," said Undersheriff Garry Biniecki.

Although the driver couldn't produce a driver's license, he and his female passenger did have something in the truck of far greater interest to officers: suspected narcotics.

When Park walked up to the driver's door, she observed suspicious behavior on the part of the driver, as if he were trying to hide something, and ordered him out of the vehicle, Biniecki said.

A check with the law enforcement network revealed the man was driving on a suspended license, and the woman was wanted on numerous outstanding warrants.

A pat-down search of the female by Deputy Park revealed a small black case stuffed down the front of her pants, Biniecki reported. The case contained syringes, and two pill bottles filled with packets of suspected cocaine.

During a search of the pickup, officers discovered nine more packets of suspected drugs, including some inside a pack of cigarettes on the driver's-side floor.

A strip search in the County Jail led to the recovery of more suspected drugs and two pipes used for crack cocaine.

Altogether, authorities recovered five grams of cocaine, individually packaged in about a dozen packets, with an estimated street value of $500; six pills of a synthetic-like heroin worth about $120; and 15 packets of heroin valued at about $150.

The pair was arraigned Monday in 73rd District Court. Timothy Joseph Guthrie, 49 of Croswell was charged with one count of controlled substance-delivery-manufacture narcotic or cocaine, less than 50 grams; one count of controlled substance-delivery-manufacture narcotic or cocaine, less than 25 grams; and driving while license suspended, revoked, or denied.

Cheri Kay Hase, 41 of Croswell was charged with one count of controlled substance-delivery - manufacture narcotic or cocaine, less than 50 grams; and a bench warrant for failing to complete the terms of a probation order.

The pair pled not guilty to the charges, and demanded preliminary examinations which were set for Dec. 17 at 11 a.m.

Bond was set at $25,000 for Guthrie, and $5000 for Hase.

Croswell and Lexington police assisted at the scene, and Drug Task Force officers also aided in the investigation.