HSV man arrested on felony drug charges after stop for expired tags
A Hot Springs Village man was arrested on multiple felony drug charges Tuesday after a traffic stop by Arkansas State Police for reportedly having expired tags on his vehicle.
Benjamin James Harbour, 28, who lists a Matamore Way address, was taken into custody around 4 p.m. and charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, punishable by up to life in prison, possession of meth with purpose to deliver and unauthorized use of another person’s property, each punishable by up to 20 years, and two felony counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Harbour, who remained in custody on $25,000 bond, pleaded not guilty to all charges Wednesday morning during a video plea and arraignment in Garland County District Court. A felony review hearing to determine if the case will be bound over to Garland County Circuit Court is set for Feb. 26.
According to the probable cause affidavit, ASP Cpl. Andrew Ault was on Highway 7 north near Lockett Mountain Road when he reportedly observed a southbound red Hyundai Accent and noted the vehicle registration had expired in May 2017.
He made a traffic stop on West Goad Hill Road and made contact with the driver, identified as Harbour, and noted he was not wearing a seat belt. He also reportedly saw a black pistol in plain view in the passenger seat within Harbour’s reach.
Ault asked Harbour to step out of the vehicle and during a pat down search, he reportedly found $480 in cash and a folding knife in his pockets. He asked if there were more weapons in the car and Harbour allegedly said there was a shotgun in the back seat and knives in the backpack in the front passenger seat.
Harbour reportedly consented to a search of the backpack and Ault allegedly observed a set of digital scales with white powdery residue, a glass jar with green residue, multiple clear plastic baggies and a gas torch inside.
In the driver’s door, Ault reportedly found a camouflage bag containing 9 grams of what later tested positive for meth and a glass smoking pipe with a white crystal substance. He also found a 12-gauge shotgun in the back seat.
It was also determined the car was registered to a Garland County woman who was not with Harbour at the time.
In addition to the felony charges, Harbour was cited for driving with expired tags, defective head lights, no seat belt, no proof of liability insurance, driving on a suspended driver’s license and defective tires.