Conway man arrested in traffic stop with over 5 pounds of marijuana
A Conway man was arrested Tuesday evening after Hot Springs police received a tip he was allegedly transporting about 5 pounds of marijuana from Conway to Hot Springs in his vehicle.
Hunter Edward Mize, 21, was arrested just before 5:30 p.m. and charged with felony counts of simultaneous possession of drugs and fire- arms, punishable by up to life in prison, possession of a controlled sub- stance with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 10 years, and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Mize appeared via video in Garland County District Court Wednesday morning and pleaded not guilty to all charges. A felony review hearing is set for Oct. 23 to determine if the case will be bound over to Garland County Circuit Court.
Mize was initially held on zero bond, but the bond was set at $35,000 after the hearing Wednesday.
According to the affidavit, Detective Ty Threadgill, along with officers with the department’s Special Investigations-Narcotics unit and 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force, received information a man, later identified as Mize, was en route to Garland County in a black BMW with about 5 pounds of marijuana.
The tip indi- cated Mize was traveling from Little Rock on Highway 70 toward Highway 128 and would turn onto Ault Loop. Investigators set up on Highway 70 at Interstate 30 and observed a vehicle matching the description heading west on Highway 70.
They reportedly followed the vehicle to Highway 128 until it turned onto Ault Loop, and initiated a traffic stop. Sgt. Chris Hays, DTF coordinator, approached the vehicle and informed the driver he had information Mize was transporting narcotics.
Mize allegedly admitted he was transporting 5 pounds of marijuana in the back seat of his vehicle. Mize was detained and Cpl. Mike Jones and his K-9 partner Keena arrived on scene to search the vehicle.
Keena alerted near the back driver’s side door, and officers reportedly found five sealed plastic bags containing about 5.6 pounds of marijuana, a Taurus firearm with eight rounds in the magazine located in a holster under the driver’s seat and a black smoking device on the top center console.
Once at the Garland County Detention Center, Mize allegedly admitted to transporting the marijuana from Conway to Hot Springs. He also reportedly said he had been selling from 15 to 20 pounds of marijuana each month for approximately six months.