Parolee arrested on felony drug charges after routine traffic stop
A Malvern man was arrested on felony drug charges early Monday after a routine traffic stop by a Garland County sheriff’s deputy.
Bobby Shay Davis, 45, was taken into custody shortly after 12: 30 a. m. and charged with possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamines, and possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years in prison.
Davis, who is on parole from a prior felony conviction for possession with intent to manufacture, was being held on $ 5,000 bond and is set to appear July 23 in Garland County District Court.
According to reports, GCSD Deputy Matthew Wharton was on patrol when he saw a black Toyota Tacoma pickup traveling on West Mountain View Road toward Thornton Ferry Road and noted the vehicle’s license plate was not illuminated, so he couldn’t read it.
He stopped the vehicle in the parking lot in the 100 block of Thornton Ferry and made contact with the driver, identified as Davis, whom he noted was “acting very nervous.” Asked for his driver’s license, Davis said he only had an ID card and a check revealed his driver’s license was suspended.
Wharton noted two white pills in the glove box, so he had him get out to pat him down for weapons. When asked, Davis said there was nothing illegal in the vehicle. The deputy found a syringe behind the seat.
He asked if Davis had any medical condition, and he said no. The deputy checked the suspect’s hat and allegedly found a baggie containing 0.5 grams of what later tested positive for meth.
Davis was taken into custody on the drug charges. He was also cited for driving on a suspended license and no license plate light.
• A local man was arrested for driving while intoxicated and misdemeanor drug charges after he was reportedly seen driving erratically early Sunday.
Jesse C. Christenberry, 36, who lists an address of 120 Monopoly Lane, was taken into custody shortly before 4 a. m. and charged with DWI and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, both misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail.
He was later released on $ 3,000 bond and is set to appear July 23 in district court.
According to the report, Wharton, accompanied by a cadet, were westbound on Albert Pike at Old Bear Road when he saw a black 2008 Chevrolet Silverado pickup eastbound in the westbound lane, heading straight toward their unit.
About 40 yards from them, the pickup swerved back into the eastbound lane, then back again to the westbound once it was past the sheriff’s unit. The deputy turned around to catch up to it, noting he clocked it going approximately 85 mph.
He stopped the vehicle at Albert Pike and Dennis Street and made contact with the driver, identified as Christenberry, and noted a strong odor of intoxicants on his breath and that he had red, watery eyes and slurred speech.
He began looking through several pockets trying to find his driver’s license, finally locating it after several minutes. Wharton conducted three field sobriety tests, all of which the suspect allegedly failed.
He was taken into custody and the vehicle was inventoried prior to towing. During the search, Wharton found a small baggie of suspected marijuana, about 0.5 grams, inside a bag near the driver’s seat.
The deputy found a cigarette box containing nine Alprazolam tablets and Christenberry reportedly admitted to taking two of them before he began drinking.
The suspect was taken to the detention center where a breathalyzer test showed his blood- alcohol content was 0.05, below the legal limit. After the test, Christenberry refused to sign any other paperwork.
In addition to the drug charges, he was cited for speeding, careless and prohibited driving, driving left of center and no proof of insurance.