PEA RIDGE — What began as a routine traffic stop about 7:30 p.m. Friday turned into a high-speed pursuit down a dirt road and ultimately into an arrest and confiscation of drugs and cash. A Pea Ridge police officer saw the driver of a vehicle “doing donuts” on the roadway on Benton County 40 at Mariano Road. When he attempted to make a traffic stop, the driver fled southbound on Mariano Road.
Other officers in the area quickly converged on the south end of Mariona at Arkansas Highway 72, blocking the exit of the vehicle.
The driver, John Curtis Gregory, was wanted on eight felony warrants. His passengers were Courtney Honsinger, 26, and a 2-year-old boy who was not buckled into a safety restraint.
In Gregory’s pocket were found a wallet with driver’s licenses from three people, a Social Security card that did not belong to either of the car’s occupants and a baggy of a green leafy substance, which was discovered to be 8.3 grams of marijuana. The search of the vehicle revealed two clear baggies of a whitish crystal substance that tested to be methamphetamine - one bag of 19 grams and the other of 2.8 grams. There were also extra clear baggies and $1,968 in cash.
The drugs have a street value of about $2,400, according to thepolice.
The vehicle, a 1973 Cougar, is owned by Doug James, who told police he allowed Gregory to test drive the vehicle.
Several other law enforcement agencies reported they were investigating Gregory on charges including forgery, theft and identification theft.
Gregory, 31, of Lowell (formerly of Pea Ridge), was booked into the Benton County Jail at 9:35 p.m. by Pea Ridge for warrant of contempt from Rogers and Lowell, body attachment, failure to appear from Pea Ridge, three counts of felony failure to appear from Benton County, felony second-degree forgery from Bentonville, two counts of felony theft by receiving from Bentonville,delivery, possession with intent to deliver, or manufacturing with intent from Pea Ridge, driving while license was canceled, suspended or revoked, felony firstdegree endangering the welfare of minor, fleeing, possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and reckless driving.
News, Pages 1 on 07/11/2012