A $10,000 cash-only bond was set Wednesday for a man who allegedly had suspected marijuana and a gun in a vehicle that police stopped for speeding.
Pine Bluff District Judge John Kearney set the bond after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge George Hampton, 40, with possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to a probable cause affidavit from Detective Michael Battles, detectives were in the area of East 27th Avenue and Georgia Street when they saw a maroon Cadillac speeding and stopped the vehicle after following it for five or six blocks.
A records check showed that Hampton, who was driving, had a suspended license and because of a strong odor of suspected marijuana, police searched the vehicle, where they found a loaded handgun under the seat.
Battles said in the affidavit that Hampton is on felony probation and during the search of the car, officers found a backpack containing five ounces of suspected marijuana, a set of digital scales and a box of sandwich bags.
The suspected drugs will be sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for analysis.
Hampton said he would hire his own attorney.