Routine traffic stop leads to arrest of two men on drug charges
A traffic stop early Sunday by Hot Springs police on a vehicle operating without its headlights resulted in the arrest of two local men on felony drug charges.
Rickey Luvell Boyd Jr., 39, who lists an Afton Street address, and William Jacob Parker, 35, who lists a Tirelli Street address, were both taken into custody shortly before 3 a.m. and charged with possession of a controlled substance, meth, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years, and a misdemeanor count of obstructing governmental operations for allegedly lying about their identities.
Boyd also had warrants for two felony counts of theft by receiving, each punishable by up to six years, and misdemeanor counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, theft of property and failure to pay child support.
Parker was later released on a $6,500 bond and is set to appear on March 14 in Garland County District Court, while Boyd was held on a zero bond and appeared Monday in district court.
According to court records, Boyd was convicted in 2019 of possession of meth with purpose to deliver, possession of cocaine with purpose to deliver and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and sentenced to six years in prison. Parker was convicted in 2021 in Clark County of possession of a controlled substance, meth, and sentenced to four years in prison.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 2:30 a.m. Sunday, HSPD Officer Aaron Combs saw a white 2009 Hyundai Sante Fe at West Grand Avenue and Central operating without headlights.
The vehicle turned onto West Grand and he made a traffic stop on it in the 400 block and made contact with the driver, later identified as Parker, who allegedly gave him a false name at first and the front seat passenger, later identified as Boyd, who also gave a false name and an ID out of Texas.
The dispatcher was unable to locate either of the names they initially gave and as officers continued to question them Boyd reportedly became “very nervous” and was talking incoherently and “sweating profusely” even though it was 44 degrees, Combs noted.
Parker reportedly gave officers Boyd’s real name and Boyd later told officers he knew Parker as “Jake.” A computer check showed the warrants for Boyd so he was taken into custody. He was searched and officers allegedly found a baggie with 1.3 grams of what later tested positive for meth in his sock, and a pipe.
Parker gave consent for them to search the vehicle and officers reportedly found two baggies under the driver’s seat that contained a total of 3.1 grams of what later tested positive for meth and a used syringe in the driver’s side door.
When questioned, Boyd said the meth found on him belonged to him, but denied ownership of the two baggies found in the vehicle. Parked claimed none of the items found in the vehicle belonged to him.
According to the affidavit on the theft charges on Boyd, on Dec. 2, 2022, a woman reported her gray 2004 Chevy Impala stolen from Vineyard Street. On Dec. 6, she reported that her debit card, which had been in her car, was used by a known suspect she believed to be Boyd.
On Dec. 11, detectives obtained security footage of the card being used at Walmart and were able to identify the man seen using it as Boyd. It was also noted he arrived at the store in the victim’s Impala, which is valued at $1,351. Warrants for Boyd’s arrest were later issued.