UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) -- A pair of men were arrested in Utica on Monday after a traffic stop yielded a significant amount of methamphetamine.

Utica Police officers -- along with members of the department's GIVE Unit -- were conducting patrols due to recent shots-fired investigations. As they were conducting their patrols, officers noticed a narcotics transaction on the 1100 block of Miller Street.

Officers attempted a stop on Columbia Street of the two suspects -- later learned to be 43-year-old Paul Ward of Yorkville and 47-year-old Warren Johnson of Utica. Ward and Johnson began to throw items from the car as the vehicle began to pull over. Eventually, the vehicle stopped and officers were able to interview both occupants.

A search was conducted of the car, Johnson and Ward. During the search over 76 grams of methamphetamine was found, as well as a loaded .25 caliber magazine. Officers also located a baggie -- which was found to contain fentanyl -- as well as a .25 caliber handgun. At that point, both Johnson and Ward were taken into custody and transported to the Utica Police Department.

Both parties were charged with:

Ward received additional charges of: