A traffic stop Tuesday morning on a vehicle matching one allegedly involved in an armed robbery Monday resulted in the arrest of the driver on multiple felony charges after drugs and a gun were reportedly found.
Franklin Nicholas Crist, 52, who lists a Crocus Street address, was taken into custody shortly before 11 a.m. and charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, possession of meth with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 20 years, and six felony counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years.
Crist was also charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, with purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of the use of a motor vehicle DWI interlock device.
Crist was being held on zero bond and was set to appear Wednesday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Hot Springs police Officer Jonathan Smith spotted a black 2013 Dodge Journey turning onto Albert Pike off North Mission Street and noted the disabled license was expired and that the vehicle matched the description of one allegedly driven by a suspect in an armed robbery Monday.
It was further noted that the registration on the vehicle returned to the same Crocus Street address where the robbery allegedly occurred so Smith stopped the vehicle near the intersection of Albert Pike and Mount Tabor Street.
He made contact with the driver, identified as Crist, and a computer check showed Crist had a restricted driver's license that required he only drive vehicles with an interlock device installed. Asked if the Dodge had the device, Crist reportedly admitted he had removed it "a couple of weeks ago."
Smith asked Crist about any possible disturbances at his residence on Monday and Crist reportedly denied there was any disturbance. Smith informed Crist that the alleged victim in the robbery had also stated there were illegal narcotics coming in and out of the residence on Crocus and asked if he could search the vehicle.
Crist refused to give consent so Smith told him that was his right, but he would need Crist and his female passenger, 44, to exit the vehicle while his K-9 partner, Bear, performed a narcotics sniff of the vehicle. At that point, Crist allegedly became "very agitated" and refused to exit the vehicle.
As he continued to refuse, Smith told him he would physically remove him if necessary. As the driver's door was opened, Smith saw a hammer between the door and Crist's seat and quickly removed him before he could grab it. He took Crist into custody at that point and in searching his person reportedly found a rifle round in his pocket that matched the type of rifle described by the alleged victim in the earlier robbery.
In searching the vehicle, Smith reportedly located a zip-up pouch on the driver's side floorboard which contained another pouch. In searching both pouches, he found one baggie with 4.7 grams of what later tested positive for meth, a baggie with 0.7 gram of meth, six straws and two glass smoking pipes.
Under the driver's seat, he reportedly found an American Tactical M1911 .45-caliber firearm with eight .45-caliber rounds in the magazine. Inside a plastic container in the center console, he also found 7.3 grams of marijuana.
Crist was taken to the Garland County Detention Center where agents with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force responded and assumed the investigation, taking possession of the evidence and seizing the vehicle.
Local on 10/17/2019