A reportedly homeless man was arrested on felony and misdemeanor drug charges Tuesday after allegedly being involved in a disturbance at Adair Park downtown and refusing to leave.
Matthew Dickerson, 32, who lists "city streets" as his address, was taken into custody at the park, located at 354 Central Ave., shortly after 1:30 p.m. and charged with a felony count of possession of a controlled substance, meth, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal trespassing.
Dickerson, who lists no prior criminal history locally, was being held on a $5,000 bond and was set to appear Wednesday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday, Hot Springs police Officer 1st Class Bryan Rosburg responded to the park regarding seven people and six dogs reportedly involved in a verbal and physical disturbance.
He made contact with one of the people allegedly involved, identified as Dickerson, and told him he needed to "pack up his belongings" and leave the park because he was now banned from the property.
Dickerson allegedly stated he was not going to leave and he was "going to stay and play his guitar." Rosburg said he told Dickerson "two more times" to pack up and leave "due to the disturbance happening in front of a large group of citizens and tourists."
Dickerson allegedly refused to leave three more times and was finally taken into custody. During a search of his person, officers reportedly found a cigarette pack containing a baggie with 0.7 grams of what later tested positive for meth. They also found a "defaced pill bottle" containing suspected marijuana, approximately 0.5 grams, and a multicolored glass pipe.