A routine traffic stop Sunday afternoon resulted in the arrest of a Hot Springs man on felony drug charges.
Jeffrey Paul Young, 50, who lists a Millcreek Road address, was taken into custody around 12:15 p.m. and charged with felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, meth, and possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years in prison, a misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended driver's license, and citations for no liability insurance, driving a vehicle with no tags and failure to use turn signals.
Young, who is on parole, was being held on bonds totaling $5,500 and appeared Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after noon Saturday, Hot Springs police Cpl. Kenny May made a traffic stop on a green Dodge pickup truck that was westbound on Grand Avenue after observing the driver change lanes without signaling and then turn onto Bridge Street without signaling.
He made contact with the driver, identified as Young, who immediately informed him he didn't have a driver's license and had not had one for about 10 years. He also reportedly told May he had no insurance and his license plate was expired.
Based on the violations, May decided to have the vehicle towed and told Young he needed to do an inventory of the vehicle's contents. At that point, Young reportedly said May might find some meth "dust." May searched Young's person and clothing and allegedly found two baggies with a total of 1.5 gram of what later tested positive for meth.
An inventory of the vehicle reportedly uncovered another baggie with 1.5 grams of meth, a bent spoon, three syringes and a digital scale, all found in a backpack in the truck bed.
Local on 08/28/2018