Two men and two male teens were arrested on multiple felony charges early Thursday after a loaded gun and drugs were allegedly found in their car after a traffic stop.
Dustin Cole Edward Black, 22, who lists a Jewel Meeks Trail address, Evan Drake Johnson, 21, who lists a Gerrard Terrace address, Corbin Vidal Wiggins, 19, who lists a Highway 7 north address in Jessieville, and Payton Daniel Wicklund, 18, who lists a Chisholm Trail address, were all taken into custody shortly before 1 a.m. and each charged with simultaneous possession of a firearm and drugs, punishable by up to life in prison, and possession of marijuana with purpose with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years.
All four were being held on zero bond and are set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Hot Springs police Officer Anthony Larkin and Officer 1st Class Cash Murray stopped a black 2019 Dodge Charger at the intersection of East Grand Avenue and Valley Street after noting it had a fictitious license plate.
Larkin approached the driver's side window and noted a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside. He made contact with the driver, identified as Johnson, and three passengers, identified as Black, Wiggins and Wicklund, and the officers had all four of them exit the vehicle while they searched it.
In between the driver's seat and the middle console, a loaded 9-mm Taurus handgun was allegedly found. In the passenger side door, a baggie with 5.4 grams of marijuana was found. Also found in the vehicle were a set of digital scales, a partially burned marijuana joint, 0.9 gram of marijuana in a cigarette pack and 71.3 grams of marijuana in a Crown Royal bag in the glove compartment. The total amount of marijuana was 77.6 grams, or almost 3 ounces.
Officers asked all four suspects who the drugs and gun belonged to and "no one would take ownership" so all four were arrested.
Johnson, who was also cited for having fictitious tags, was previously arrested on Dec. 18, 2019, on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, psilocybin, with purpose to deliver, possession of meth with purpose to deliver and a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver.
Johnson was released on a $3,500 bond the same day as his arrest and the case is still pending in Garland County Circuit Court.
His arrest stemmed from an incident on Nov. 3 where he was allegedly found overdosing at his residence. He told Garland County sheriff's Deputy Matt Cogburn he had taken hydrocodone, cocaine, heroin, mushrooms and marijuana. Cogburn was able to revive Johnson using Narcan and he was transported to a local hospital and arrested after his release.
Cogburn later won a Life Saving Award from the sheriff's department for his efforts in reviving Johnson.
Local on 02/20/2020