Traffic stop leads to felony drug arrest
A local woman was arrested early Friday on felony drug charges following a routine traffic stop during which she allegedly resisted arrest and protested being stopped.
Stephanie Aleshia Francis,
28, who lists a Bailey Place address, was taken into custody shortly before
12:30 a.m. and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, meth, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, driving on a suspended or expired driver’s license and no proof of insurance.
Francis, who also had a warrant for failure to comply, was initially held on bonds totaling
$9,250 but appeared via video Friday morning in Garland County District Court where Judge Ralph Ohm set her bond at $5,000. She pleaded not guilty to all the charges and a felony review hearing is set for Dec. 31.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Hot Springs police Sgt. Kirk Zaner was southbound on Central Avenue near Greenwood Avenue when he saw a yellow Chevrolet Cobalt ahead of him with no rear taillights illuminated. He made a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 2200 block of Central and approached the driver, later identified as Francis.
As he walked up, Francis allegedly stated, “I don’t mean to be confrontational, but what is your probable cause for pulling me over?” Zaner explained the reason for the stop and when asked, Francis stated she didn’t have her driver’s license or proof of insurance. She did provide her correct name, date of birth and Social Security number.
A short time later, Francis reportedly admitted she had a warrant which Zaner confirmed and he learned her driver’s license was suspended. He asked Francis to exit the vehicle and she asked why so Zaner explained she was going to be arrested.
Francis was reportedly given several more orders to exit her vehicle, but she refused, stating, “I’m not getting out of the car.” Cpl. Brandon Jones had arrived to assist and opened the passenger door. Francis allegedly began yelling and grabbed her purse as Jones unbuckled her seat belt and
Zaner continued to order her to get out.
Francis continued to refuse so the two officers attempted to pull her out by her arms, but she allegedly resisted and put her hands inside her purse. At that point, Zaner notes he pulled his Taser and ordered her to show her hands and exit the vehicle, but she refused.
Finally, the officers forcibly removed her as she actively resisted, the affidavit states, and “dug her fingernails” into Zaner’s wrist as he was handcuffing her.
During an inventory of the vehicle prior to towing, Jones allegedly located a wallet containing Francis’ driver’s license and other ID, a clear plastic wrap containing a white substance that later tested positive for meth, and a glass pipe commonly used for smoking meth.
Located directly under Francis’ vehicle, by the driver’s door and on Central, was a white phone box containing several empty syringes and one syringe with 13 milliliters of what later tested positive for meth.