Three Pine Bluff men were arrested Friday afternoon after they reportedly caused a disturbance at a downtown restaurant and were allegedly under the influence of intoxicants at the time.
During a court hearing Monday, Deputy Prosecutor Cymber Gieringer said all three men, Torrell Stocker, 26, Fredrick Lowe, 25, and Lamarcus Benton, 26, had prior felony convictions and Benton and Lowe are currently on parole while Stocker is on probation.
Gieringer said the men were arrested after police were sent to Wendy’s on Main Street at 5:15 p.m. where employees said three men in a blue Chevrolet Impala had cursed them at the drive-through window, then came inside and caused a disturbance.
The men were described in a police affidavit as “appearing dazed and under the influence of intoxicants,” and Gieringer quoted the affidavit as saying they were “shoving hamburgers into their mouths as if they were starving.”
All three men were handcuffed for officer safety and Officer Chris Powell, who was one of the officers sent to the disturbance, arrested Lowe and Stocker because he knew there were active warrants for them.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Benton was also arrested for public intoxication and when he was searched, police found $515 cash and a bag containing cocaine base weighing four grams.
Stocker was carrying several pills which were identified as hydrocodone.
Gieringer said Lowe initially claimed he was driving the car but store video indicated Stocker was driving, Benton was in the front passenger seat and Lowe was in the back seat.
A search of the car resulted in officers finding a handgun with one round in the chamber and 12 in the magazine, in the front seat, and a .45-caliber handgun under the front passenger seat.
Gieringer said Lowe is on parole after two convictions for possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Stocker is on probation after convictions for committing a terroristic act and being a felon in possession of a firearm and has a pending charge of felon in possession of a firearm.
Benton is on parole after being convicted of aggravated assault and felon in possession of a firearm.
Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth ruled prosecutors had probable cause to charge Stocker and Lowe with felon in possession of a firearm and to charge Benton with felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver, and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.
Bridgforth set a $50,000 bond for each of the three and told them to come back to court Sept. 24.