News

SUSPECTED DRUG ACTIVITY LEADS TO ARREST

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Friday, September 5, 2008 9:51 AM CDT

Alleged drug activity at a Pine Bluff motel Wednesday led to the arrest of a Pine Bluff man after investigators found crack cocaine in his vehicle.

At a court hearing Thursday, Circuit Judge Berlin Jones ruled prosecutors had probable cause to charge Todd Maynard, 39, of Pine Bluff with possession of crack cocaine and set a $5,000 bond for him.

Deputy Prosecutor Rik Ramsey said police vice and narcotics officers and the Tri-County Drug Task Force were conducting surveillance at the Crown Inn at 5th Avenue and Walnut Street, investigating alleged drug activity, when they saw a white truck driven by Maynard pull up at about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Ramsey said a passenger in the truck got out, went to a room briefly, then returned to the truck which drove off.

An affidavit from Detective Sharon Reed reported the officers followed the truck and when it failed to stop at a stop sign, made a traffic stop.

“Detective Reed reported Maynard was jerking around, fidgeting, and not acting the way a person normally would when stopped by police,” Ramsey said. “He was unable to produce a driver’s license or registration and continued to act out, frequently reaching into his pockets even though he was told not to.”

Ramsey said investigators decided to check Maynard more closely and when he got out of the truck, noticed that his pants pockets had been turned inside out, and saw a white, rock-like substance that field tested positive for cocaine base (crack cocaine) on the driver’s side floorboard.

Print this story   |   Email this story