Three arrested on felony drug charges after traffic stop

Tarlton
Tarlton

Three suspects were arrested on felony drug charges Saturday morning after a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle.

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Swayze

Ashley Renee Tarlton, 32, who lists a Gobert Street address, and Shealee Lafawn Swayze, 27, of Royal, were both taken into custody around 9:30 a.m. and each charged with felony counts of possession of meth with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years, and two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, punishable by up to one year in jail.

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Hager

Also arrested was Ronald Lee Hager, 44, who lists a Summer Street address, on a felony charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years, and a parole violation.

Tarlton was being held on bonds totaling $8,000 and Hager on zero bond and both appeared Monday in Garland County District Court. Swayze was released on $9,500 bond and is set to appear June 26 in district court.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Hot Springs police responded to the area of the dumpsters behind Petco, 1430 Higdon Ferry Road, in response to reports of a man sleeping back there and arrived to find a vehicle occupied by two women with a man in the back seat "that appeared to be laying over."

The officers attempted to make contact with the occupants, but the vehicle promptly drove off despite the officers' attempts to stop it. Officer Shane Lewis was able to stop the vehicle moments later in front of Bed Bath & Beyond and made contact with the driver, identified as Tarlton, the front seat passenger, identified as Swayze, and the back seat passenger, identified as Hager.

He noted an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and called for backup, including a K-9 officer. Tarlton reportedly gave consent to search the vehicle as she and the passengers got out. Hager was taken into custody on a parole warrant and officers allegedly found a used syringe in his pocket.

In searching the vehicle, officers allegedly found a syringe loaded with blood, approximately 30 units, and a backpack with a prescription bottle in Tarlton's name containing two baggies of marijuana, 4.7 grams, an Alprazolam pill, and several baggies with meth residue.

They also found a marijuana pipe in the front seat. Asked if she had anything on her person, Tarlton reportedly produced a baggie from her bra containing 0.2 gram of meth and then pulled a $1 bill from her boot with 0.4 gram of meth in it.

Once at the detention center, officers found a baggie with 0.6 gram of marijuana on the floor where Swayze had been standing. They reviewed security video which allegedly showed Swayze dropping the baggie onto the floor.

Local on 06/19/2018

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