Traffic stop for fictitious tags results in arrest of two men on drug charges
A traffic stop on a car with reportedly fictitious tags Tuesday afternoon resulted in the arrest of men from Hot Springs and North Little Rock on drug charges.
Nathaniel Leslie Montell Ellis, 29, who lists a Lowery Street address, was charged with two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, involving ecstasy and hydrocodone pills, punishable by six to 10 years in prison, and a felony count of possession of drug paraphernalia, 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.
Jamal Cortez Ellis, 30, of North Little Rock, was charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He also had a warrant out of Dallas County, Texas, so he remained in custody Thursday on a zero bond pending extradition.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Hot Springs police Officer
Richard Davis stopped a green
Honda Accord at the corner of Central Avenue and West
St. Louis Street after noting the tags returned to a different vehicle.
He made contact with the driver, identified as Nathaniel Ellis, and a computer check showed he had a warrant for failure to appear from Garland County and that his driver’s license was suspended. A check of the passenger, identified as Jamal Ellis, revealed he also had a local warrant for failure to appear and the extraditable warrant out of Texas so both men were taken into custody.
While speaking to both men, Davis reportedly noticed a strong odor of marijuana. While taking them into custody, he was patting down Jamal Ellis and reportedly found a green bottle in his pants containing 0.4 gram of marijuana.
In searching the vehicle, officers found a glass container with
1.2 grams of marijuana, digital scales, a baggie with 1.2 grams of marijuana and a pill bottle with
17 hydrocodone pills and one ecstasy pill.
When interviewed later, Nathaniel Ellis said all the pills were his and that he took them for “medicinal purposes because of a hurt back.” In addition to the felony and misdemeanor charges, Nathaniel Ellis was cited for having fictitious tags, expired tags, driving on a suspended driver’s license and no proof of insurance.
Nathaniel Ellis appeared Wednesday via video in Garland County District Court and pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Judge Joe Graham set his bond at $5,000 and a felony review hearing is set for Nov. 16.