A local felon found sleeping in a car Thursday morning was soon facing multiple felony charges when a loaded gun and drugs were allegedly discovered in his possession.
David Rico Poda, 32, who lists a Brentwood Street address, was taken into custody shortly before 11:30 a.m. and charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, possession of a controlled substance, meth, with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 10 years, and possession of a firearm by certain persons and possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years.
He remained in custody Friday on zero bond and, according to the arrest report, is set to appear Nov. 5 in Garland County District Court, but would likely be arraigned Friday afternoon.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 11 a.m. Thursday, Hot Springs police Officer Joel Crook responded to the 300 block of Fontana Road for a welfare check on a man seen sleeping in a vehicle.
Crook arrived on scene and found a man, later identified as Poda, asleep in the driver's seat of a 2012 Mitsubishi Galant. He reportedly saw a plastic bag between the passenger seat and center console that contained a "clear crystal-like substance" that later tested positive for meth, 0.7 gram.
Poda was taken into custody without incident and in searching further, officers located a glass pipe in the driver's seat, two lighters in the center console and a Glock .22-caliber handgun loaded with 15 rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber between the driver's seat and the console.
The affidavit notes has two prior felony convictions for second-degree burglary and theft from 2012 out of Arizona.
Local on 10/26/2019