A couple from Conway County has been arrested on felony drug charges in Searcy County, after a park ranger asked them if they had licenses to fish along the banks of the Buffalo National River at Grinders Ferry.
According to the probable cause affidavits filed last week, while 28-year-old Joseph Petty Jr. of Hattieville told the ranger he did not have a license, 24-year-old Caitlyn Engle of Morrilton said she did and asked to retrieve it from their truck.
The ranger asked Engle to wait until he gathered information from Petty. As he did so, he observed Petty put his hand in his left pocket and place his body so it was facing away from the officer. The ranger watched as Petty allegedly slowly removed his hand from his pocket and dropped something, while trying to cover it with his foot.
The officer determined the dropped item to be a plastic fishing worm, leading him to believe Petty’s behavior suggested he was trying to conceal something else. Petty denied having marijuana, but when questioned, shook his head indicating he did have methamphetamine.
Engle advised the officer she had a marijuana joint in her bra, removed it and handed it to the ranger.
As the officer began searching Petty, Engle said she was going to retrieve her fishing license, attempted to walk away and was advised to stop, come back and stand by the patrol unit. She did so, but placed herself where the officer could not see her from the waist down.
As the ranger searched Petty, he saw Engle digging a hole in the gravel with her foot. He stopped the search and went to see what Engle was doing. As he stepped around the corner of the vehicle, he observed small baggies with a green leafy and white crystal substances, believed to be marijuana and methamphetamine, on the ground.
When he resumed the search of Petty, he allegedly found a bag of methamphetamine on his person.
Engle later reportedly told a member of the 20th Judicial District Drug Task Force she had been using meth for about eight years. She has also sold the illegal drug to pay a portion of her probation fine.
The two were charged with felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, while Engle also faces a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana.
Petty’s bond was set at $7,500, while Engle’s was set at $5,000.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI