Felon arrested following traffic stop after gun, drugs reportedly found

Codey James Slyter - Submitted photo
Codey James Slyter - Submitted photo

A local felon on parole with charges pending from earlier this year was arrested again Tuesday following a routine traffic stop after a loaded gun and multiple drugs were allegedly found in his possession.

Codey James Slyter, 28, who lists a Brumley Trail address, was taken into custody shortly before noon and charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, possession of a firearm by certain persons, punishable by up to 20 years, possession of meth with purpose to deliver and two other counts of possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver involving ecstasy and hydrocodone, punishable by 10 to 20 years, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by six to 20 years, and possession of a defaced firearm, punishable by up to six years.

Slyter, who was also charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver, was previously convicted in Garland County on Jan. 13, 2020, of delivery of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, unauthorized use of another person's property to facilitate a crime and use of a communication device and sentenced to six years in prison, but later paroled. He was arrested March 30 for possession of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia and released that same day on $5,000 bond with a hearing in the case set for Oct. 12 in Garland County Circuit Court.

Slyter, who was also cited Tuesday for speeding and having an obstructed windshield, was being held on a zero bond and is set to appear Oct. 4 in Garland County District Court.

According to the probable cause affidavit, around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Garland County sheriff's Sgt. Jon Lane and Deputy Susan Musler were on routine patrol on Highway 7 north and stopped a red Chevy Blazer for going 53 mph in a 45 mph zone and because the windshield had an obstructed view.

They made contact with the driver, identified as Slyter, and noted he was "very nervous" and seemed to be "distracted and uneasy" while searching for his ID and registration. When asked if there was anything in the vehicle they needed to be aware of, he reportedly said, "Um, I don't think so."

A computer check revealed his parole status with a search waiver on file so Lane asked him again if there was anything in the vehicle and he reportedly admitted there might be a gun in a backpack on the passenger seat.

A loaded Ruger .380-caliber handgun was found in the backpack along with six unused syringes and multiple unused baggies. It was noted the serial number of the handgun had been filed off.

Also reportedly found in the backpack was a black magnetic box that contained one baggie with 0.5 gram of what later tested positive for meth; a second baggie with 0.8 gram of MDMA, or ecstasy; a part of a baggie that contained 3.5 grams of marijuana; and a small bottle with 10 and a half hydrocodone pills.

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