Narcotics search warrants targeting two alleged meth dealers that were executed almost simultaneously early Friday by the local drug task force resulted in the arrests of five suspects, including both targets.
Investigators with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force had identified residences at 135 Dart Drive and 178 Fury St. as locations where meth was being distributed and had determined Steven Mark Zuber, 54, the listed resident on Dart Drive, and Charles Lee Hancock, 58, the listed resident on Fury Street, were the primary distributors, a release said.
According to a probable cause affidavit, at around 6:06 a.m. Friday, agents with the DTF, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Hot Springs police and Garland County sheriff's narcotics units, an Arkansas State Police air unit and the Arkansas Community Correction's Special Response Team executed the warrant on Dart Drive with the Garland County Tactical Response Team making entry. Steven Zuber was located in the front bedroom in bed.
A second suspect, Gregory Eugene Youngblood, 58, who lists a Buxton Loop address, was located in a rear bedroom in bed.
Steven Zuber's wife, Tammy R. Zuber, alias Tammy Lent, 51, who lists a Malvern address, was located just inside the front door. All three were detained while investigators searched the residence.
A backpack was found in the front bedroom which allegedly contained a loaded 9-mm two-shot derringer, a baggie with 7.3 grams of meth, two baggies with a total of 22.1 grams of marijuana, a bottle of oxycodone pills, two sets of digital scales, and a smoking device.
They also found a black case beside the bed containing $12,000 in cash, a loaded 9-mm semi-auto handgun and a loaded .22-caliber semi-auto handgun, a wallet with IDs in Steven Zuber's name, a purse with Tammy Zuber's ID, documents with both their names and another $61 in cash.
They found another purse in the same room with 99.7 grams of meth, a bottle with clonazepam pills, hydromorphone pills, buprenorphine pills and five more sets of digital scales.
In the rear bedroom where Youngblood was found, investigators allegedly found a loaded 722 revolver and found a baggie with 8.9 grams of meth in his pants pocket.
Investigators also found a 2018 Toyota Camry, valued at $20,000, parked at the residence that had been reported stolen out of Hot Springs.
In a camper at the residence, they reportedly found a fourth suspect, identified as Bryan Keith Thacker, 44, who lists a Malvern address, and a female. All of the suspects were taken into custody.
Steven Zuber, Tammy Zuber and Youngblood were each charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, punishable by up to life in prison, possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 30 years, unauthorized use of another person's property to facilitate a crime and four counts each of possession of a firearm by certain persons, each punishable by up to 20 years, theft by receiving more than $5,000, punishable by up to 10 years, and multiple other counts of possession with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Thacker, who is on parole, was charged with unauthorized use of another person's property and theft by receiving. All four suspects were being held on zero bond and appeared Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to a probable cause affidavit, at around 6:10 a.m. Friday, DTF agents and officers with the Hot Springs police Special Investigations Division executed the warrant on Fury Street and found Hancock alone inside.
In searching the residence, investigators allegedly found a loaded .22-caliber handgun, a meth pipe, 0.25 gram of meth, nine zolpidem pills, two sets of digital scales, a small baggie of marijuana, three other smoking pipes and multiple rounds of ammunition. In a shed on the property, they reportedly found a ledger with information about narcotics sales.
Another warrant was executed at a camper on property reportedly owned by Hancock on Galaxy Street across the road from Hancock's residence on Fury Street.
Inside the camper, investigators reportedly found seven .22-caliber rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun and a 20-gauge shotgun. They also found two more meth pipes, a marijuana grinder, more ammunition and an empty pill bottle in Hancock's name.
Inside a Honda Odyssey van found on the property investigators reportedly found five more .22-caliber firearms, two of which were loaded.
Hancock, a felon, was taken into custody and charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, 15 counts of possession of a firearm by certain persons, six counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver, both felony and misdemeanor.
Hancock was also arrested on a felony warrant for delivery of meth, punishable by up to life in prison.
According to an affidavit, between July 20 and Aug. 30, 2018, DTF agents and Homeland Security used a confidential informant to make a controlled purchase of meth from Hancock that was over 10 grams, but less than 200 grams. The purchase was reportedly videotaped and investigators positively identified Hancock in the video.
Hancock was being held on zero bond and also appeared Monday in district court.
The DTF is comprised of Investigators from the state police, sheriff's department, police department, 18th Judicial District East Prosecuting Attorney's Office and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.
Local on 10/23/2018