Larry E. Bell who lists himself as homeless made a first appearance in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday and entered a not guilty plea to a significant number of charges stemming from a traffic stop early this month.
According to the probable cause affidavit, an Arkansas State Police trooper was parked at the junction of State Highway 5 and Highway 126 when he saw a tan vehicle with very dark tinted windows avoid the intersection where the trooper was sitting by driving through the parking lot of a gas station at the intersection and pull onto Highway 126.
The trooper gave chase and the tan vehicle made what was described as a “very fast turn” onto a county road and sped up. The trooper came within sight of the fleeing vehicle in time to see the driver throw two plastic bags out of the window.
The suspect stopped after a short distance and the trooper placed the driver in custody. The trooper put the suspect in his patrol car and then drove back and retrieved the plastic bags that had been thrown out of the window during the chase. One of the bags contained suspected methamphetamine and one contained pills identified as morphine.
When the trooper inventoried the vehicle, he found a small amount of marijuana, Xanax pills and a marijuana smoking pipe.
The driver was identified as 53-year-old Larry Bell. His driver’s license was found to be suspended and he also had an active warrant issued in Baxter County.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Bell failed the standard sobriety test. He did take a breath test, but refused to give a urine sample.
Bell was booked on drug-related charges and a number of traffic offenses including driving while intoxicated and careless and prohibited driving.
During Thursday’s court session, Bell asked to have his bond reduced, but Judge Gordon Webb denied the request. Bell’s bond on the Circuit Court cases is $10,000 and Judge Webb said that seemed appropriate given the number and type of charges Bell faces.
Bell was ordered to reappear in Circuit Court on November 16th.
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