A traffic stop by Arkansas State Police late Sunday resulted in the arrest of a local man on multiple felony and misdemeanor drug charges.
Lee Amos Smith, 44, who lists an East Belding Street address, was taken into custody shortly before 11 p.m. and charged with felony counts of possession of meth with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 30 years in prison, unauthorized use of another person's property to facilitate a crime, punishable by up to 20 years, and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years.
Smith was also charged with misdemeanor counts of driving on a suspended license, possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to one year in jail.
Smith was being held on bonds totaling $27,500 and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, ASP Trooper Jackson Dorman was in the parking lot of US Bank, 1234 Central Ave., when he saw a white Dodge Charger with Florida tags stopped at Central and West Maurice Street and noted the car matched the description of one allegedly involved in a recent drive-by shooting on Trivista Street.
He followed the vehicle and a check of the license plate returned to a red Dodge Charger so he activated his lights to make a traffic stop as the vehicle turned into the parking lot of the Economy Inn, 805 E. Grand Ave.
The Charger did not stop and continued to the rear of the hotel and eventually to the opposite side of the building before finally stopping. Dorman had the driver, identified as Smith, get out and detained him as several Hot Springs police officers arrived to assist.
A check on Smith revealed he was an active parolee with a search waiver on file. Meanwhile, officers located two baggies of what later tested positive for meth under Smith's vehicle. In searching Smith's person, the trooper reportedly found a marijuana cigarette. Another baggie of meth was found under the driver's seat along with three more marijuana cigarettes.
The total amount of meth in the three baggies was reportedly 13.7 grams and the total of marijuana was 3.9 grams.
After being transported to the detention center, it was discovered Smith had allegedly tried to dispose of some more marijuana in the back of Dorman's unit. A computer check revealed Smith's driver's license was suspended and the vehicle he was driving was registered to another person in Florida, resulting in additional charges.
Smith reportedly had $200 in cash in his possession which was confiscated by agents with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force. The drugs found were taken to the state crime lab for analysis.
Local on 03/17/2020