An investigation into alleged drug activity at a dead end street on West 25th Avenue resulted in the arrest of two men Tuesday afternoon and the seizure of more than a pound of cocaine plus a handgun.
During a court hearing Thursday, Deputy Prosecutor Maxie Kizer said Darrell Charles, 29, and Tyran Williams, 19, were taken into custody by investigators from the Tri-County Drug Task Force, who had been conducting surveillance in the area for more than a month.
Task Force Investigator John Hughes reported that investigators watched three or four vehicles pull up to the location, a person get out and approach a person sitting in a GMC Yukon and appear to make an exchange, then leave the area.
Kizer said investigators approached the Yukon after four men had walked up to it and left, and confronted Williams, who was sitting in the front passenger seat and was the only person in the vehicle.
Hughes reported that Williams claimed he did not know who the vehicle belonged to, and officers saw a set of digital scales in plain sight in Williams’ right front pocket.
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Kizer said Williams then said the vehicle belonged to Charles, and gave investigators verbal consent to search it. A Glock handgun and ammunition were located.
Hughes said Charles walked out while investigators were searching the vehicle, then ran back inside the house and out a back door. He was caught after a chase for several blocks.
After the owner of the house refused to give investigators permission to search, Kizer said a search warrant was obtained and investigators found more than one pound of crack cocaine, 7.9 grams of marijuana, digital scales and plastic bags.
Hughes reported that Charles had more than $2,700 in his pocket, and investigators found $619 cash in the house.
Both Charles and Williams refused to make statements to investigators and asked for attorneys, the affidavit from Hughes said.
At Kizer’s request, Pine Bluff District Judge John Kearney set $50,000 cash only bonds for both Charles and Williams after ruling prosecutors had probable cause to charge them with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver crack cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Charles was also charged with fleeing and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.
Kearney told Charles and Williams to come back to court May 3. Both men said they would hire their own attorneys.