Traffic stop for running stop sign leads to parolee’s arrest for drugs
A routine traffic stop on a motorist for reportedly running a stop sign early Tuesday lead to a local parolee’s arrest on multiple felony charges after meth, cocaine and marijuana were allegedly found.
Bryan Jermaine Ellis, 34, who lists a Kayla Street address, was taken into custody around 2 a. m. and charged with possession of meth with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, possession of cocaine with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 10 years, and possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years, and a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana.
Ellis, who was also cited for failure to stop or yield, driving on a suspended driver’s license and no liability insurance, was being held on $12,000 bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Hot Springs police Cpl. Jarret Cantrell saw a white Cadillac CTS westbound on the East Grand Avenue service road and noted it ran the stop sign at its intersection with Gorge Road and continued west toward East Grand.
Cantrell made a traffic stop on the car in the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn, 1125 E. Grand, and made contact with the driver, identified as Ellis. A computer check showed he was an active parolee with a search waiver on file and that his driver’s license was suspended.
Cantrell had Ellis step out while he searched the vehicle and reportedly located a plastic bag and a purple container that contained a total of 3.8 grams of what later tested positive for meth, so Ellis was taken into custody.
While en route to the jail, Ellis was in the back seat and was allegedly “bent over … doing a lot of movement.” Once at the jail, Cantrell checked his unit and located an eyeglass case on the floorboard that allegedly contained two used syringes, a baggie with 2.2 grams of marijuana, a spoon and 0.4 gram of what later tested positive for cocaine.
According to court records, Ellis had pleaded guilty on Jan. 22, 2018, in Garland County Circuit Court to possession of meth with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.