Recent reports, according to the Second Judicial District Drug Task Force, Mississippi County unit:
Two Blytheville men were arrested Saturday and are expected to be charged with felony possession of marijuana, said a spokesman for the Second Judicial District Drug Task Force, Mississippi County unit.
Ruben Malone, 40, of 1320 Sarah St., and William Howard III, 25, of 906 N. Franklin, Apt. 208, were arrested after an Arkansas State Police Trooper observed a vehicle with the driver wearing a seatbelt behind his back. The trooper made a traffic stop at the intersection of Sawyer and Denny streets.
As he approached the vehicle, the trooper noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the car.
Both Malone and Howard exited the vehicle and the officer found a cigar containing suspected marijuana in Malone's hand and another small piece of cigar, also containing suspected marijuana, in the ash tray of the vehicle.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers found a large amount of cash in a bag in the floorboard of the vehicle. More cash was found in Howard's pockets. The cash in the bag totaled $5,838, while the cash on Howard added up to $1,020.
Both defendants have previous misdemeanor arrests for possession of controlled substances. Howard is currently on probation.
Their bonds were set at $10,000 each by Blytheville District Judge Shannon Langston.
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A Wilson man was arrested Saturday and will be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine and fleeing.
Two Mississippi County deputies were patrolling in the Dyess area when one of the officers saw a vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign.
The two deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, which sped away. As deputies pursued, the vehicle struck a ditch and stopped. The occupants of the vehicle fled on foot.
Clayton R. Reeves, 29, of 100 Laurel St., Wilson, was captured about two blocks from the vehicle. Officers noticed a strong chemical smell on Reeves' clothing.
In a search of the vehicle, officers found a clean plastic bottle which appeared to have components used to manufacture methamphetamine.
An officer from the DTF was contacted and arrived to confirm the contents of the bottle.
Reeves was arraigned on the charges by District Judge Shannon Langston, who set bond at $25,000.
dhilton@blythevillecourier.com