Hot Springs man held in drug case

HOT SPRINGS — A Hot Springs man was arrested on felony and misdemeanor warrants Wednesday morning, accused of fleeing on foot from a traffic stop earlier this month while in possession of meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Miguel Angel Estrella, 40, who lists an address on Patterson Street, was taken into custody shortly before 9 a.m. and charged with felony counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to 20 years in prison; possession of meth with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 10 years; possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years; and misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver and fleeing on foot.

Estrella remained in custody Thursday in lieu of a $16,000 bond and is to appear in Garland County District Court.

According to the probable cause affidavit in the case, on May 1, shortly after 8:30 a.m., officer Joey Vanderburg saw a white Lexus traveling north on Linwood Avenue that was swerving when it neared the intersection of Ward Street. The driver reportedly failed to stop at the stop sign and failed to use a turn signal.

Vanderburg pulled the vehicle over, and a passenger, later identified as Estrella, got out. The officer told Estrella to get back in and he did, but refused to close the door, the affidavit says.

Estrella took off running, headed south, the affidavit says.

Officers searched the vehicle and reported finding 0.1 gram of meth in the trunk and 1.8 grams of marijuana between the passenger seat and center console. Inside the console, officers reported finding 1.1 grams of marijuana in a metal tin and a marijuana blunt in the driver’s door.

Officers also found 0.7 gram of clonazepam, two digital scales, numerous small plastic bags, rolling papers, three pipes and $340 in cash, according to reports. Warrants were later issued for Estrella’s arrest.