A Pearcy man and woman stopped Wednesday while riding a scooter for not wearing protective gear were arrested on felony drug charges after the man allegedly attempted to conceal meth in his glove.
Blaine Arnold Laxson, 55, and Kerri Ann Duff, 39, who both list a Rolling Acres Court address, were taken into custody shortly before 2:30 p.m. and each charged with possession of meth, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years.
Both remained in custody Thursday in lieu of bonds totaling $6,000 and Duff, who lists multiple aliases, also had a hold on her out of Pulaski County. Both are set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, Garland County sheriff's Deputy Jon Lane observed two people riding together on a blue scooter. The man, later identified as Laxson, was driving the scooter while sitting on the back of the seat, and the woman, later identified as Duff, was riding in front of him. Both occupants reportedly had no eye protection.
Lane pulled them over and discovered Laxson's license was suspended and Duff had a no bond warrant out of Pulaski County.
After she was placed into custody, Duff asked Lane to retrieve her belongings from under the seat of the scooter. Lane approached Laxson, who reportedly appeared very nervous, and asked if he could collect Duff's belongings. Laxson reportedly gave him permission and opened the storage compartment under the scooter's seat himself.
When the backpack was removed from the compartment, a pack of cigarettes hit the bottom of the storage area, and Lane allegedly saw a glass pipe concealed inside the cigarette pack. Lane asked Laxson who the cigarettes belonged to, and he reportedly replied "it's not mine."
Duff said she owned the cigarettes, but insisted the pipe belonged to Laxson.
Laxson was wearing a glove on his left hand that he allegedly did not want to remove, but once Lane told him that he was being arrested, Laxson emptied his pockets and removed the glove, placing it on the seat of the scooter.
Deputy Roy Elliott reportedly located a small baggie containing more than 2 grams of suspected meth inside the glove.
Local on 09/22/2017