Two Traverse City men were arrested on meth-related charges in separate traffic stops over the weekend.

Troopers from the Michigan State Police Traverse City post stopped a vehicle driven by a 32-year-old Williamsburg woman Friday just after 9pm for an equipment violation on North US-31 in East Bay Township. A passenger, 45-year-old Ralph Edwin Mason III from Traverse City, had a warrant for his arrest. Mason was taken into custody for the warrant. During his arrest, Mason was found to be in possession of multiple containers of methamphetamine, schedule-two controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, and a digital scale. Mason was lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail. The driver was not arrested. Mason was arraigned in the 86th District Court in Grand Traverse County on one count of delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine. His bond was set at $25,000 cash surety.

On Friday at 10pm, troopers from the Michigan State Police Traverse City post attempted to stop a vehicle on Keystone Road for an equipment violation. The driver of the vehicle began to pull onto the shoulder of the roadway, before pulling back on the roadway and continuing northbound. The driver slowed and signaled several times that he was stopping, but never came to a complete stop. Troopers followed the vehicle for approximately six miles at speeds between 20-30 mph. The vehicle finally stopped at a red light at the intersection of Hammond and Garfield Roads.

Troopers and a deputy from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office boxed the vehicle in. The driver was identified as 34-year-old Preston Earl-Dwight Tyler from Traverse City. During his arrest, troopers located a clear pipe with burnt white residue in the pocket of his jacket. Inside the vehicle, troopers found two vials of clear liquid labeled testosterone. Tyler was lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail.
Tyler was arraigned in the 86th District Court in Grand Traverse County on one count possession of
methamphetamine and fourth degree fleeing and eluding. He was given a $50,000 PR bond. His next
scheduled court appearance is on March 8.

Pictured (L-R): Ralph Edwin Mason III, Preston Earl-Dwight Tyler