A routine traffic stop led to the arrest late Thursday of a local man on felony and misdemeanor drug charges after various drugs were allegedly found.
Benjamin David Ray, 35, who lists a Chad Street address, was taken into custody shortly before 11:30 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, and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, and possession of a schedule II, each punishable by up to one year in jail.
Ray, who also had a warrant for failure to appear, was being held on an $8,000 bond and was set to appear Friday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Hot Springs police Officer Anthony Larkin made a traffic stop on a black Toyota 4Runner at the corner of Summer and West St. Louis streets after reportedly observing the driver, later identified as Ray, fail to use a turn signal at an earlier intersection.
Larkin made contact with Ray and a computer check revealed the warrant so he took Ray into custody. He noted that in plain view there was a small baggie in the center console which contained a white crystal substance that later tested positive for meth, 0.6 gram.
There were also four syringes, included one used one, in the console cubby, a small baggie of marijuana, 1.6 grams, and nine packets of Buprenorphine and Naloxone, both schedule II narcotics.
In addition to the felony and misdemeanor charges, Ray was cited for failure to use a turn signal.
Local on 11/02/2019