A routine traffic stop Sunday afternoon resulted in the arrest of a local probationer after drugs were allegedly found in her vehicle within reach of a juvenile who was improperly secured in a car seat.
Bonnineesha L. Martin, 34, who lists a Rector Street address, was taken into custody shortly before 1:30 p.m. and charged with felony counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and possession of a controlled substance, cocaine, each punishable by up to six years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Martin, who also had a misdemeanor warrant for theft of property, was initially being held on a $7,000 bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court. She remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of a $4,000 bond.
According to court records, she was convicted on Oct. 10, 2023, in Pulaski County of two counts of theft by receiving and violation of a no-contact order and sentenced to three years' supervised probation.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday, Hot Springs police Officer Jose Castaneda was patrolling in the 700 block of East Grand Avenue when he spotted an unlicensed white 2002 Toyota RAV4 and stopped it at the intersection with Cottrell Avenue.
He made contact with the driver, identified as Martin, and a computer check showed she was a probationer with a search waiver on file and had a warrant for theft of property so he had her step out and took her into custody.
During a search of the vehicle, officers reportedly found a glass pipe with residue "commonly used to smoke narcotics" and a white crystalline rocky substance on the front passenger seat. Castaneda was able to collect approximately 0.7 grams of the substance, which later tested positive for cocaine, into a baggie.
After being read her rights, Martin reportedly stated the substance found on the seat was "crack." Officers also found a small baggie with residue under the driver's seat.
During the search, Martin's juvenile daughter was in a car seat in the rear middle seat of the vehicle and officers noted it was "not properly secured to the vehicle." It was also noted the juvenile was "only strapped in by the shoulder straps and not the bottom strap" and the cocaine and pipe were in an area the juvenile could have reached.
Martin reportedly stated she had "just finished using" a small amount of the cocaine before Castaneda stopped her. She said the cocaine had been in a baggie but "believes the baggie ripped up" due to her moving several items in the front seat.