Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Drug Bust Made On I-30; Truck Drivers Cited On Hwy. 371

What began as an act of kindness turned into a drug arrest Friday, April 27.

According to reports from the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, deputy Robby Plyler saw a 1998 Ford Ranger pulling onto the shoulder of Interstate 30, wondered if something was wrong and went to offer help if any was needed.

When he reached the driver's side of the truck, he detected the odor of alcohol. He had the driver get out and take a field sobriety test.

The driver passed, but a check showed his driver's license had been suspended.

Plyler went back to the truck to see if any of the other passengers had valid licenses, but saw the three others drinking beer.

Checks were run on all three of them as well. Plyler asked if any of them had any drugs or weapons.

Shane Doran, 28, of Mabelvale, admitted having some marijuana on his person, and handed it to Plyler.

A search of the vehicle turned up a shaving kit containing methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia.

The kit belonged to Kristopher Kumpe, 20, also of Mabelvale.

Doran was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, while Kumpe, who was on parole at the time, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both charges are class C felonies, with a sentence of three to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

The other passengers were cited for drinking on the highway, while the driver, Robert Bailey, was given a ticket for driving on a suspended license.

RECKLESS DRIVING

Three drivers were charged with reckless driving after speeding down Highway 371, passing on a double yellow line and passing in curves.

The trio was seen by Jim Cross, director of the Office of Emergency Services in Nevada County, as they crossed into Nevada County from Columbia County.

The lead driver, Joseph Landry, 23, of Estherwood, La., was driving a Ford F-350 to clear the way for the other two, who were driving International three-axle tractors with tankers filled with aviation gas.

The other drivers were Ted Istre, 24, of Greenwood, Miss., and Jared Bowen, 21, of Kaplan, La. They were on their way to Mena to deliver the fuel.

Cross, though, followed the trio, witnessing their actions on the road, and radioed into the NCSO.

The three were stopped on Highway 278 by deputy Heb Sorrells and Arkansas Highway Police officer Johnny Vickers.

Vickers cited the two in the trucks for log book violations, while Sorrells ticketed all three for reckless driving.

All three bonded out, two on professional bonds and one on a cash bond.

TRAILER BURNS

A mobile home owned by Johnathan and Carrie Webb burned Sunday, April 29.

The call came in around 1:45 p.m.

According to the report, Johnathan Webb had been in the kitchen cooking something, when he got sick and went to the bathroom.

He heard a popping noise, according to the reports, and went back to the kitchen, having left grease on an open flame. He saw flames on the wall, and told his wife to get their child out.

Webb attempted to fight the fire, but could do nothing as the mobile home was destroyed.

Fire crews from Laneburg, Redland and Fair Hill fought the blaze, with the Nevada County Rescue Unit on hand with the NCSO.