Photos: Amber Taylor and Robert Carpenter
Two people arrested by Izard County authorities have been charged with felony counts of drug trafficking.
According to the probable cause affidavit, 45 year-old Robert Carpenter of Saffell in Lawrence County and 29-year-old Amber Taylor of Viola were taken into custody following a traffic stop Thursday.
An Izard County deputy parked at the Pineville Fire Department initiated the stop after observing a vehicle the two were traveling in with damages to the windshield severe enough to diminish the driver’s view.
Taylor told the deputy she was experiencing “female problems” and asked to enter a nearby store to use the restroom. The deputy told her the stop shouldn’t take that long, and she would be free to go when he was done. He then observed Taylor reaching into her pants and instructed her to stop.
Three additional officers arrived to assist, and Taylor gave them a glass smoking pipe that had allegedly been on her person.
A pat down search of Carpenter led to the discovery of a large square shaped object in his front right pants pocket. He told the officers it was money he had because he was on his way to buy a vehicle.
A K9 officer from the 16th Judicial District Drug Task Force arrived and alerted on the vehicle Carpenter and Taylor had been traveling in.
A search of the vehicle reportedly led to a large bag of methamphetamine. A search of Carpenter’s wallet led to various cards and several $100 bills. Officers removed a large amount of money folded in half and held together in Carpenter’s right front pants pocket. The report notes $4,820 was seized from Carpenter, with $484 from Taylor.
Both have been charged with trafficking the controlled substance methamphetamine of over 200 grams, which is a Class Y felony, the most serious classification of crime in Arkansas not punishable by death. They are also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia with the purpose to analyze methamphetamine.
Carpenter is also charged with proximity to certain facilities, within 1,000 feet of a daycare center, which is subject to an enhanced sentence of an additional term of imprisonment of 10 years.
His bond was set at $50,000, while Taylor’s is set at $25,000.
Information from the Izard County Sheriff’s Office indicates both are on probation with Arkansas Community Corrections, which has a hold on them.
Investigators with the 16th Judicial Drug Task force were called in for follow-up investigation. A search warrant was gained for Carpenter’s county of residence, where more methamphetamine and over $99,000 in cash were seized.
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