Traffic stop leads to two arrests
A traffic stop early Friday morning led to the arrest of the driver on warrants and his passenger on multiple felony charges involving cocaine and a reportedly stolen firearm.
Demarius Lesajun Grisby, 25, who lists a Pleasant Valley Street address, and Jaterrian Tiyon Conway, 19, who lists a Wade
Street address, both previously convicted felons, were taken into custody shortly after 8 a.m. Friday and each charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, punishable by up to life in prison, possession of firearms by certain persons, punishable by up to 20 years, and possession of a controlled substance, punishable by up to six years.
Grisby was also charged with an additional felony count of possession of a controlled substance, punishable by up to six years, and Conway was charged with felony theft by receiving, punishable by up to six years, and misdemeanor fleeing.
Both remained in custody Monday in lieu of zero bond and are set to appear April 25 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, at around 7:45 a.m. Friday, Hot Springs police Officer Chris Chapin saw Grisby, who was known to have warrants for failure to appear, pumping gas into a white Buick LeSabre at a service station at the corner of Malvern Avenue and Lowery Street, and turned around to make contact with him.
He saw Grisby get back into the car and head east on Ridgeway Street and followed. Chapin said he saw Grisby lean over and appear to put something under the seat when he noticed Chapin behind him, so he turned on his lights to make a traffic stop, but Grisby continued on driving slowly along Ridgeway to Pleasant Valley Street.
Chapin activated his siren and Grisby slowed to a stop. Fearing Grisby would pull away, Chapin said he didn’t get out and Grisby continued on, slowing a few more times. He finally stopped near Boaz Street after Chapin activated his siren again and Chapin ordered him to put his keys on the roof and he complied.
Chapin detained Grisby, who gave him consent to search the car after denying there was anything illegal in it. Other officers arrived to assist and the passenger, identified as Conway, was asked to get out while they searched.
A firearm was reportedly found under Conway’s seat and when Conway heard he was going to be detained as a result, he allegedly fled south on foot, but was apprehended moments later on Mark Street.
An ACIC check of the firearm revealed that it had been reported stolen through HSPD.
The search of the vehicle also revealed 0.2 gram of cocaine.
Both the firearm and drugs were located in places easily accessible to Grisby and Conway.
Later while questioning Grisby, detectives reportedly observed him fidgeting in his seat. The detectives searched him and a bag with 0.3 gram of cocaine reportedly fell out of his pants leg.
• A Hot Springs man was arrested early Sunday after allegedly threatening and beating his wife.
Matthew Martin Everhart, 37, of 107 Baganridge St., was taken into custody at his residence shortly after 3 a.m. and charged with third-degree domestic battery, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. He remained in custody Monday in lieu of zero bond and is set to appear April 25 in district court.
According to the affidavit, shortly after 2 a.m., HSPD Officer Jonathan Langford was dispatched to Everhart’s residence in reference to a battery and made contact with Everhart’s wife.
She said she was in their daughter’s bedroom when Everhart arrived home, walked into the bedroom and asked why she didn’t want to go out with him. He then allegedly grabbed her by the hair and dragged her into their bedroom, where he said, “I’m going to rape you and then kill you.”
She said Everhart began to choke her until she was gasping for air and could barely breathe and punched her in the face, but she was able to get away and run toward a neighbor’s house with her husband chasing her.
She said she made it to the neighbor’s driveway and Everhart caught her and dragged her back to their carport of their residence. The two began to struggle and she was able to get away a second time and make it to a neighbor’s residence, where she banged on the door as Everhart went back to their home.
Langford noted the victim had red marks with bruising on her wrist and redness around her neck, consistent with her statement. He also noted Everhart had abrasions on his right cheek, chin, knees and hands.
• A Delight man was arrested on a felony warrant Friday for allegedly choking his ex-girlfriend while under the influence of drugs earlier this month.
Derenzo Deshon Preston,
23, was taken into custody at approximately 12:40 p.m. and charged with aggravated assault on a family or household member, punishable by up to six years in prison. He remained in custody Monday in lieu of
$2,500 bond and is set to appear April 25 in district court.
According to the affidavit, Preston’s ex-girlfriend said that on April 5 Preston was in her residence on Civic Street. She said he was high on “K2,” a synthetic marijuana, and became agitated and began accusing her of cheating on him. He then grabbed her by the throat and squeezed it, making it difficult for her to breathe.
• A local man reportedly passed out in his vehicle was arrested late Friday after narcotics were allegedly found in his vehicle.
Dana Jeffery Vanpelt, 46, who lists a Bayside Road address, was taken into custody at around 10:17 p.m. and charged with possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.
He was later released on
$3,500 bond and is set to appear
April 25 in district court.
According to the affidavit, HSPD Officer A.J. Tart responded to the Valero,
1024 Airport Road, in reference to a man, later identified as Vanpelt, passed out in the driver’s seat of a gray GMC Yukon.
Tart allegedly observed a silver spoon with cotton and residue in the bowl and a razor blade and syringe sitting in the vehicle’s center console. He then woke Vanpelt and asked him about the residue in the spoon. Vanpelt reportedly first said the substance was ibuprofen, but then said it was methamphetamine.
Three pills, later identified as oxycodone, were reportedly found in a cigarette pack in the vehicle and Tart noted the residue in the spoon was the same color as the pills.