A Clarkridge man facing drug charges in four active cases opened last year was sentenced to 12 years in prison during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Monday.
A number of the charges against 53-year-old Tommy Raymond Hitt, II, stem from traffic stops.
Hitt was arrested twice during a four-day span in December 2020. The first arrest came Dec. 4 when drugs were found in a vehicle in which he was a passenger.
The first and second arrests were connected by a cellphone belonging to Hitt and seized when he was taken into custody during one of the traffic stop. A search warrant was obtained to allow investigators to check his cellphone.
An examination of the phone revealed “numerous conversations where drug transactions” were discussed.
It was learned that Hitt was allegedly having drugs shipped to the County Road 481 address where Tommy Gattis and Trystina Meadows lived. The home belonged to one of Hitts relatives.
Hitt was reported to be using the name of a former tenant at the residence as the person to receive the package.
Armed with this information, officers next went to the home and served a search warrant.
They reported finding a number of used syringes in the trash along with various other items of drug paraphernalia.
Two of the traffic stops leading to earlier arrest on drug charges were made by he same Mountain Home Police officer.
The first stop was made on Mar. 4 last year along Locust Street. Hitt, who was on parole at the time, was allegedly speeding.
The officer searched Hitt and found slightly more than $1,100 in cash. A backpack was also located containing a plastic bag holding 1.1 pounds of marijuana.
Only 67 days later, the same MHPD officer stopped Hitt after he reported observing Hitts vehicle weaving from one lane to another on State Highway 201 North.
The Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by Hitt was finally stopped when two other MHPD officers made a barrier out of their patrol vehicles.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Hitt began resisting arrest and stun guns were used to bring him under control.
The officers observed that Hitt was attempting to eat something. After he ceased resisting, Hitt is reported to have spit out a small plastic bag containing a white crystalline substance that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
Criminal cases have been set up on Hitt since 2016. The charges have mainly been drug-related, but have also included being a felon in possession of a firearm, breaking and entering and criminal trespass.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI