A Conway man arrested late Tuesday after he was allegedly determined to have been driving a stolen car was soon facing additional charges after drugs and paraphernalia were found in the police unit transporting him.
Miguel Antonio Colon, 54, was taken into custody shortly after 9:30 p.m. and charged with theft by receiving over $25,000, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, furnishing, possessing or using prohibited articles, punishable by up to 10 years, possession of a controlled substance, meth, and possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years.
Colon was being held on a $13,500 bond and a zero bond parole hold and was set to appear Wednesday in Garland County District Court. According to court records, he was convicted in Garland County in 2020 of forgery and theft of property and sentenced to six years in prison, but later paroled, and on July 25, 2023, in Benton County on drug charges and sentenced to six years' probation.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Tuesday night, Hot Springs police were dispatched to the 100 block of Buena Vista Road regarding a suspicious vehicle and occupants.
Officers spoke to the caller at the scene, who stated that a red vehicle with Florida plates, later determined to be a 2021 Genesis G70, was driving around the area and a male in a gray hoodie and jeans "kept coming up to the car" as it would circle around.
The caller said the car was parked in the lot at Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, 102 Buena Vista, and he pointed it out. A check of the vehicle reportedly determined it had been reported stolen out of Little Rock.
The caller gave a description of the driver and the other male and as Cpl. Joey Vanderburg circled the lot he spotted a man matching the description of the driver enter Freddy's and quickly make his way to the restroom at the back.
Vanderburg made contact with the male, identified as Colon, as he exited the restroom and attempted to leave. Officers later obtained footage from the gas pumps that reportedly showed Colon driving the vehicle along with a passenger who was also located.
In talking with the passenger, it was discovered he had just been picked up by Colon a short time earlier and was given a ride. He confirmed Colon had been driving the Genesis so the passenger was later released.
Colon was read his rights and questioned and reportedly admitted to driving the vehicle so he was taken into custody on the theft charge and taken to the jail. Once there, Officer Will Brakefield went to remove Colon from the back seat and allegedly saw a glass pipe and a white empty container at Colon's feet.
He also found several napkins with a white substance in them in the seat next to Colon. When asked, Colon denied having the items or anything else on him. While being searched by deputies inside the jail, a small baggie with 0.6 grams of what later tested positive for meth was reportedly found in his clothing.
The affidavit notes it was later determined the Genesis was valued at $27,765.