A traffic stop on a speeding and allegedly intoxicated motorist late Wednesday led to his arrest on multiple felony drug charges.
Kenneth Wayne Coudrain, 34, who lists an address of 306 Meadowbrook St., was taken into custody shortly before 10:30 p.m. on the King Expressway and charged with felony counts of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, punishable by up to life in prison, possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 20 years, and possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years.
Coudrain, who was still being held without bond Thursday, was also charged with misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated and refusal to submit and is set to appear Oct. 19 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, around 10:15 p.m., Arkansas State Police Trooper Corey Ray was parked on the expressway west of Carpenter Dam running radar when he saw two vehicles approaching at a high rate of speed. He clocked a pickup at 100 mph and noted it started to slow after passing his location, so he activated his lights and made a traffic stop.
He noted the driver, identified as Coudrain, had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Asked if he had been drinking, Coudrain reportedly admitted he drank two beers at his shop earlier. He stated he had left his wallet and ID at home.
He submitted to three field sobriety tests and reportedly failed all three. A portable breathalyzer registered his blood alcohol content at 0.10 percent, over the legal limit, so he was taken into custody.
In checking his vehicle, Ray observed a black 9 mm pistol between the driver's and middle seat, which was found to be loaded. There was also a clear pouch in plain view that contained a glass smoking pipe and scales. Inside he allegedly found two baggies of what later tested positive for meth, approximately 8.3 grams.
Once at the detention center, Coudrain reportedly became "very agitated" and began cursing at Ray. The trooper asked Garland County sheriff's Cpl. Branstetter to perform a second breath test which also registered 0.10 percent at 11:27 p.m.
Ray noted Coudrain wasn't read his rights before the second test, so he voided it and attempted to take another one, but Coudrain refused to submit. During "several verbal altercations," the suspect allegedly told Ray "it was a good thing he was stopped on a good day or would have possibly used the weapon on me."
The evidence and case file were turned over to the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force for further investigation and the suspect's vehicle was seized by DTF.
Local on 10/09/2015