A Hot Springs man was arrested early Friday morning on misdemeanor drug and underage drug-related DUI charges after a Garland County sheriff's deputy allegedly located suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.
Dakota Ray Frank, 19, who lists a Lowery Street address, was arrested on Thornton Ferry Road just before 12:30 a.m. Friday and charged with misdemeanor possession of suspected marijuana, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, both punishable by up to one year in jail, misdemeanor underage DUI for drugs, and misdemeanor refusal to submit to a chemical test.
He was released from custody in lieu of a $3,000 bond and is set to appear in Garland County District Court on May 21.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Deputy Clayton Green conducted a traffic stop on a silver Nissan Altima around midnight on Thornton Ferry Road and made contact with the driver and only occupant, identified as Frank, and allegedly detected a strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
When Green asked the driver if there was any marijuana in the vehicle, Frank reportedly stated that he did not know because the car belonged to his roommate. Green then reportedly had Frank exit the vehicle to conduct a field sobriety test.
The results of the field test prompted Green to ask Frank if he had smoked marijuana prior to operating the vehicle. Frank reportedly admitted that he had smoked about an hour prior to the traffic stop, the affidavit stated.
During a search of the vehicle, Green reportedly located a plastic "Vac Tight" container with about 6 grams of suspected marijuana inside, a marijuana grinder with residue, a partially smoked "blunt," and a set of digital scales.
Frank was placed into custody and transported to the Garland County Detention Center where he reportedly agreed to take a breath test on a blood alcohol content machine. The affidavit states the result of the breath test reportedly showed no presence of alcohol in Frank's system.
When Frank was asked about the last time he smoked marijuana, he reportedly stated that "he smoked at home and then drove about a mile up the road to Domino's." Frank allegedly refused to submit a urine sample.
In addition to misdemeanor drug and drug possession charges, Frank reportedly faces citations for traffic violations.
Local on 05/15/2018