Prairie Grove Man Faces Marijuana Charges

A Prairie Grove man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, following an investigation by Prairie Grove police.

Michael Chism, 32, of 305 Kate Smith, was arrested June 11 in connection with felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was taken to Washington County Deten- tion Center.

According to a Prai-rie Grove police report, officers responded to a complaint May 23 from a resident on Kate Smith, alleging that items had been stolen from her house and vehicle. Officers approached 305 Kate Smith and a man and woman sitting on the front porch indicated they were just staying at the house and that the homeowner, Michael Chism, was out of town.

Cpl. Chris Porter reported that a strong smell of unburnt marijuana was coming from the house. Porter contacted Washington County Drug Task Force and when the DTF detective arrived, officers searched the house with the written consent of the man and woman. Officers found four large zip lock bags that had a very strong odor of marijuana coming from them in the freezer. A plastic container with marijuana hash oil also was seized. A bedroom identified as Chism’s bedroom had a large lock on the door.

Porter and DTF detectives returned the next day to execute a search warrant and inside the locked bedroom found a safe with seven bundles of cash totaling $32,866, a large bag containing one pound of marijuana, another bag with 16 grams of marijuana and a container with 401 grams of marijuana. Drug paraphernalia also was seized from the residence.

According to a second Prairie Grove police report, Porter was parked at Bush and Kate Smith streets when he observed a GMC pickup belonging to Chism driving past him. Porter stopped the vehicle and then placed Chism under arrest for the felony charges. At that time, Porter also took into possession a bag with a small amount of marijuana in it and drug paraphernalia.

Chism was issued a citation for the misdemeanor charges and given a July 7 court date in Prairie Grove District Court.

Chism