Homeless bicyclist allegedly riding without a light facing drug charges

Roderick D. Clay - Submitted photo
Roderick D. Clay - Submitted photo

A homeless man riding his bicycle in the dark without a light was arrested early Saturday on felony and misdemeanor charges after drugs were allegedly found in his possession.

Roderick Dewayne Clay, 30, who lists "city streets" as his address, was taken into custody shortly after 6:30 a.m. and charged with a felony count of possession of a controlled substance, meth, punishable by up to six years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to one year in jail.

Clay, who also had a warrant for failure to appear, was being held on a $4,500 bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court. According to records, Clay had no prior felony history and only one prior arrest for misdemeanor disorderly conduct last year and then reportedly failed to appear for his arraignment in district court.

According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Hot Springs police Officer William Stockwell was westbound in the 900 block of West Grand Avenue when he saw a man riding a bicycle in the road "while it was still dark with no light."

He noted the man, later identified as Clay, was westbound, but then crossed over to the eastbound lanes, still traveling west, so he activated his lights and stopped Clay near Lila Street.

When asked about not having a light, Clay reportedly said he normally uses one, but it was in his bag. A computer check revealed the failure to appear warrant so Clay was asked to get off his bicycle and walk to the front of Stockwell's unit where he was taken into custody.

Officers searched Clay's backpack and reportedly found a small metal pipe with marijuana residue. In searching Clay's wallet found in the backpack, officers allegedly located a small baggie with two or three small crystals consistent with meth and a pair of tweezers.

Stockwell then walked to the front of his unit and noticed another baggie with what appeared to be meth and other officers at the scene agreed the bag was not there prior to Clay having walked to the front of the car.

When asked about the meth, a total of 0.7 gram, Clay reportedly admitted he had a "weed pipe" and stated he "had tried some other stuff" also.

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