A Mountain Home man, 27-year-old Carlo Joseph Farruggia, who is on active parole, was arrested Monday on felony charges after he was found with drugs during an investigation into a two-vehicle accident in Mountain Home. According to Mountain Home Police Chief Carry Manual, Farruggia is being held in the Baxter County Detention Center on a $2,500 bond.
The arrest affidavit in the case says a Mountain Home Police officer was dispatched to the scene of a two-vehicle accident at an undisclosed location. Upon arrival the officer found one vehicle to be occupied by a pregnant female and two young boys, and the other vehicle was occupied by Farruggia. The officer says Farruggia had slurred speech, was unsteady on his feet, and had bloodshot eyes.
He was found to have a suspended drivers license and on active parole, with a search waiver on file. After he was searched, a small black box was located in his left rear pocket. The box contained a plastic baggie with approximately two grams of a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, and three cut straws.
Farruggia complained of pain and was transferred to Baxter Regional Medical Center. While at the hospital he refused to submit to a blood test.
The officer was able to obtain a search warrant for a blood draw on Farruggia, and the two vials have been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for results.
After Farruggia was discharged from the hospital he was taken to the Baxter County Jail. While jail staff was searching him and changing him out, he handed the jailer a glass smoking pipe with residue wrapped in a bandanna. The residue from the glass pipe was field tested positive for methamphetamine.
He faces felony charges of furnishing prohibited articles, possession of a controlled substance; methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia and parole violation. He also faces charges of DWI, refusal to submit to a BAC test, driving on a suspended license and being a habitual offender.
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