A local man was arrested on multiple felony charges early Thursday following a routine traffic stop where a loaded gun and drugs were allegedly found in the vehicle.
Fabious Davon Cole, 29, who lists a Laser Street address, was taken into custody shortly before 7 a.m. in the 100 block of Pakis Street and charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, unauthorized use of another person's property to facilitate a crime, punishable by up to 20 years, possession of a controlled substance, meth, and possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years.
Cole, who lists no prior felony history, was also charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, punishable by up to one year in jail, and was cited for no liability insurance and having expired tags.
He was being held on a zero bond and was set to appear Friday in Garland County District Court. According to court records, Cole pleaded guilty on April 19 in district court to misdemeanor counts of theft of property, possession of drug paraphernalia and fleeing on foot and was sentenced to one year in jail with all but 90 days suspended.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 6:45 a.m. Thursday, Hot Springs police Officer Seth Jones made a traffic stop on a green 1994 Chrysler Concorde after noting the tags had expired in August 2020 and made contact with the driver, identified as Cole.
When Cole opened the door, Jones immediately saw a black Springfield Armory SA-35 9-mm handgun between the driver's seat and door and told Cole he was going to take possession of it for officer safety. He noted the gun was loaded.
Jones also allegedly noted a small amount of suspected marijuana in a baggie in the driver's door handle so Cole was detained. On the floorboard, Jones allegedly found a black scale and a silver spoon with a substance that field-tested positive for meth, approximately .08 gram.
Also in the driver's door was a black bag that reportedly contained another baggie of marijuana and two baggies with suspected meth residue. The total amount of marijuana recovered in the stop was 0.2 grams.
Cole was unable to provide a bill of sale for the vehicle which was last registered to someone else.