Man arrested on drug, firearm charges
A Hot Springs man was arrested on multiple felony charges early Wednesday after he was allegedly found in possession of drugs and a stolen firearm during a traffic stop.
Nathan Alan Pokrajac, 26, who lists a School Street address, was taken into custody at around 2 a.m. Wednesday and charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, punishable by up to life in prison, possession of a controlled substance, heroin, and theft by receiving, each punishable by up to six years, and a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, punishable by up to one year in jail.
Pokrajac remained in custody Thursday on zero bond and was set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 1 a.m., Garland County sheriff’s Investigator Matt Ellis observed a tan Chevrolet SUV turn into a Valero Gas Station on Albert Pike Road without using a turn signal.
Ellis recognized Pokrajac as the driver and saw him exit the vehicle. A dispatcher told Ellis that Pokrajac had a suspended driver’s license and possible warrants from the city and county, which were later confirmed.
Pokrajac returned to his vehicle and left traveling east on Highway 270. Ellis performed a traffic stop and Pokrajac told him he did not have his license with him.
Ellis asked Pokrajac if he had anything illegal in the Chevrolet, and he replied that there was marijuana in the vehicle.
Ellis located a baggie of marijuana blunts, approximately
11.9 grams, in his left pants pocket and a clear baggie with crunched up foil inside. Pokrajac reportedly told
Ellis there was heroin inside the foil and a field test later confirmed it.
In searching the vehicle, Ellis reportedly found multiple handgun magazines and a loaded
9-mm handgun in the back seat of the vehicle. A check on the handgun revealed it had been reported stolen in the city.
Ellis also reportedly located two backpacks containing multiple handgun magazines that fit the handgun and an ammunition crate full of miscellaneous caliber rounds, including some
9-mm rounds that matched the handgun.