A traffic stop on a reportedly stolen vehicle Sunday resulted in the arrest of two suspects, including a local woman charged with multiple felony counts after numerous narcotics were allegedly found.
Andrea Marie Burciaga, 35, who lists a South Patterson Street address, and OV Liketh Thomas, 34, who lists no permanent address, were both taken into custody shortly before 1 p.m. and each charged with theft by receiving more than $5,000, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, in connection with the stolen vehicle.
Burciaga was also charged with possession of a schedule I or II controlled substance with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 30 years, possession of meth with purpose to deliver, unauthorized use of another person's property to facilitate a crime and possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to 20 years, possession of a schedule III substance with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 10 years, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years.
Burciaga was being held on bonds totaling $65,500 and Thomas was being held on $3,500 bond and both appeared Monday in Garland County District Court for an arraignment hearing.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Sunday, Hot Springs police made a traffic stop on a gray 2016 Nissan Versa with an estimated value of $13,000 that had been confirmed stolen out of Little Rock, pulling it over in the parking lot of Auto Zone, 410 Albert Pike.
Officers blocked the vehicle in near the south side of the business and ordered the driver, identified as Thomas, and the front seat passenger, identified as Burciaga, out of the vehicle at gunpoint. Both complied and were taken into custody without incident.
In searching Burciaga's person, officers allegedly found several baggies containing a total of more than 2 grams of what later tested positive for meth. In searching the vehicle, they reportedly found two handbags in the back seat.
The bags allegedly contained baggies with a total of 4.4 grams of meth, baggies with a total of 27.8 grams of marijuana, a bottle of codeine, several bottles of pills, later identified as Clonazepam, Alprazolem, and hydrocodone, $1,435 in cash, a marijuana grinder, three digital scales, two glass pipes, rolling papers, five cellphones, baggies, straws and spoons with residue and rolled marijuana cigarette.
Agents with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force were notified and responded to the detention center where they confiscated the drugs and money.
Burciaga reportedly told police she had purchased the vehicle two weeks earlier for $5,500.
The DTF is comprised of investigators from the HSPD, Arkansas State Police, Garland County Sheriff's Department, 18th Judicial District East prosecuting attorney's office and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.
Local on 01/30/2018