Hot Springs police investigating suspected drug activity ended up arresting a local man Tuesday after the vehicle he was in was found to be stolen.
Tyler Scott Martin, 25, who lists a Ledger Rock Road address, was taken into custody shortly after 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Valero, 2616 Albert Pike, and charged with theft by receiving over $5,000, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Martin, who also had four warrants for failure to appear, was being held on zero bond and was set to appear Wednesday in Garland County District Court. Martin was previously arrested on May 12 and July 26 this year, both involving the theft of vehicles, and both of those cases have since been bound over to Garland County Circuit Court where they are pending.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday, Officer Robert Plyler got a phone call about possible drug activity between two white males standing outside a blue Chrysler Town and Country van at the Valero.
While en route to the area to check on it, Plyler ran the license plate of the van the caller provided and determined the van had been reported stolen earlier through the Garland County Sheriff's Department.
Once on scene, he spotted a man, later identified as Martin, walking toward the van who suddenly turned to go back into the store after seeing police pull up. Officers detained Martin who allegedly admitted he was the driver of the van.
In searching his pockets, police found a vehicle key wrapped in black electrical tape which Martin stated belonged to the van. He said the van was broken down and would not start. He claimed it belonged to "a lady named Mary" who had given him permission to drive the vehicle.
Martin was taken into custody and transported to the Garland County Detention Center where sheriff's investigators responded to question him about the theft. Investigators stated the van was valued at $8,000.
Local on 10/24/2019