Intruder in carport area of home leads to felony drug charge for Benton man
A Benton man was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges after Garland County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an intruder early Monday.
Robert Kaleb Long, 35, was taken into custody shortly after 1 a.m. and charged with a felony count of possession of a controlled substance, meth, and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, resisting arrest, five counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of theft by receiving under $1,000.
He remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $19,000 bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 1 a.m., Cpl. Jon Lane was dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Grand Isle Drive regarding a call about a suspicious person in the resident’s carport.
Upon arrival, Lane made contact with a white male, later identified as Long, in the carport area of the house who was “acting very nervous and agitated” and tried to get into a white Cadillac occupied by a female, 29, in the passenger seat.
The license plate of the Cadillac was found to be stolen, but when Lane attempted to arrest him for the theft Long reportedly became “very angry and vocal” and continued trying to get back in the vehicle.
Lane was finally able to pat him down, but noted Long kept “looking over his shoulder” and pulling away from the deputy. When Lane tried to search Long’s front waistband, he allegedly pulled away and began kicking at the deputy, causing his shoe to fly off.
Sgt. Jeremy Simpson had arrived to assist and both deputies were able to take him down to the ground and get him into custody.
Inside the shoe, Lane allegedly found a small baggie with 0.7 gram of what later tested positive for meth.
Inside the vehicle, there were several knives and a hammer close to the driver’s side door where Long kept trying to get in.
Also found in the vehicle were three syringes, two sets of scales, two baggies of marijuana, approximately 9.5 grams, and another license plate that was determined to be stolen.
Long was previously arrested Feb. 3, 2019, in Hot Springs for possession of a controlled substance, meth, and possession of drug paraphernalia and later released on $3,500 bond. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in Garland County Circuit Court on April 29 and is set for a hearing on June 24.