A local man and woman were arrested on multiple felony drug charges Wednesday after a traffic stop led to the discovery of a large amount of controlled substances and firearms.
More than 100 grams of various controlled substances, along with firearms, were allegedly found inside the pickup truck the man was driving, and a subsequent search located more drugs and firearms inside his apartment, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Joshua Zachariah Henderson, 40, and Tiffany Jade Watson, 30, who both list an address of 5701 Central Ave., were taken into custody just before 10 a.m. Wednesday and each charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, punishable by up to life in prison, two counts of possession of meth and cocaine with purpose to deliver, possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Henderson, a previously convicted felon, was also charged with additional felony counts of possession with purpose to deliver involving prescription pills, possession of a firearm by a certain person and unauthorized use of another person's property to commit a crime. Watson was also charged with a felony count of furnishing prohibited articles.
They both remained in custody Thursday in lieu of zero bonds, and are set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
The affidavit said Arkansas State Police Special Agent Josh Heckel recognized the driver of a green 1995 Ford Ranger pickup, which was southbound on Central Avenue, as Henderson, and knew there was a warrant for his arrest in connection with delivering cocaine.
Heckel requested assistance from ASP Sgt. Kevin Steed and Trooper Terry Sawyer, who stopped the pickup in the 5000 block of Central. Henderson was taken into custody on the warrant and his passenger, identified as Watson, was detained.
A loaded 9-mm handgun was reportedly in plain view inside a brown purse next to where Watson had been sitting. She did not have a driver's license, so a tow truck was called to retrieve the vehicle. An inventory of the vehicle was conducted prior to it being towed.
Next to the purse, officers reportedly located a small zippered bag allegedly containing about 2 grams of suspected marijuana. Inside the purse, they reportedly found Watson's ID and a clear container with four pills.
One pill was reportedly identified as Xanax, but the rest were not identified. A piece of paper containing around a quarter of a gram of suspected meth was also reportedly found inside the purse.
Next to where Henderson was sitting, officers allegedly located a computer bag that contained a loaded .40-caliber handgun, a small zipper bag containing a baggie with around 22 grams of suspected marijuana, a glass vial containing approximately 10 grams of suspected meth, a bag containing about 4 grams of suspected meth and another bag containing approximately 21 grams of suspected cocaine.
Between the purse and computer bag, officers found another zipper case with a green circle and white cross allegedly labeled "Happy kit," which contained a clear plastic bag with around 14.5 grams of suspected meth, two bags with around 39 grams of marijuana, a bag with about 30 grams of cocaine, one bag with an Opana pill and a glass bottle with another 0.2 gram of meth.
A suitcase was reportedly found in the bed of the pickup containing a photo album and multiple firearms, including a loaded .22-caliber rifle and a loaded .22-caliber handgun.
Henderson, who has multiple prior felony convictions for drugs, residential burglary and aggravated assault, allegedly told Heckel everything inside the vehicle belonged to him.
A short time later, a search warrant was executed at Henderson's apartment, where officers reportedly located a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, a loaded .22-caliber handgun, a loaded 9-mm handgun, a loaded .45-caliber handgun, a .380 handgun and a plastic container with numerous assorted rounds of ammunition and loaded magazines inside.
They also allegedly located 10 Xanax pills, about 2 grams of suspected meth, a set of digital scales, 13 suspected meth smoking devices and multiple documents and pill bottles in Henderson's name.
At the detention center, deputies located a suspected marijuana pipe. Watson reportedly admitted the pipe, the Xanax pill and three other pills reportedly found during the traffic stop belonged to her. All of the drugs found inside the pickup and the apartment reportedly field tested positive for narcotics.
Local on 09/29/2017