CLAY COUNTY, IA (Northwestiowanow) — A Clay County traffic stop led to the arrest of two Ocheyedan residents on drug charges Sunday afternoon.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says that on Sunday, March 22, a deputy initiated a traffic stop for multiple traffic violations near the 3400 miles of M-27 around 4:20 p.m.

While approaching the vehicle, the deputy detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside. The driver, identified as 42-year-old Nicholas Rochefort, was asked to exit the vehicle and was patted down, during which the deputy located a marijuana vape.

A following search of the vehicle uncovered additional marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Rochefort and his passenger, 43-year-old Sheila Rochefort, were taken into custody and transported to the Clay County Jail without incident.

Nicholas Rochefort was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance—Marijuana, a serious misdemeanor, along with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, no driver’s license, no insurance, failure to display a front license plate, and operation without registration, all simple misdemeanors.

Sheila Rochefort was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance—Marijuana, a serious misdemeanor, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.