A felon who allegedly wrecked his vehicle while driving drunk early Sunday was arrested on a felony charge after a loaded gun was found in his possession.
Antonio Matrial Davis, 33, who lists a Thornton Street address, was taken into custody shortly before 3:30 a.m. and charged with possession of a firearm by certain persons, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated, first offense, punishable by up to one year in jail.
Davis, who was also cited for careless and prohibited driving and no liability insurance, was later released on a $3,500 bond and is set to appear Sept. 15 in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday, Hot Springs police Officer William Stockwell responded to a wreck in the 1000 block of Hobson Avenue and made contact with the driver of the vehicle that reportedly caused the wreck, identified as Davis.
The officer reportedly noticed Davis had red, watery eyes, an odor of intoxicants about his person, slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet. Davis reportedly admitted to causing the wreck and that he had "a couple of drinks" earlier.
When Davis opened his driver's door to get out, Stockwell noticed a .40-caliber pistol on the driver's floorboard. Davis reportedly admitted the gun was his and that he "only had it for protection." Davis said he was a convicted felon and a computer check confirmed he was convicted in 2007 in Garland County Circuit Court of possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver.
He was taken into custody and transported to the Garland County Detention Center where he agreed to submit to three field sobriety tests, all of which he failed. He also agreed to a Breathalyzer test and reportedly registered 0.26% blood alcohol content, more than three times the legal limit.