Tip leads to 2 arrests at motel

A tip led to the arrest of a man and woman at a Pine Bluff motel Monday.

Brian Avants, 33, and Amanda Johnson, 27, were taken into custody at the Briarwood Motel at 4101 W. Barraque St., Deputy Prosecutor Maxie Kizer said during a court hearing Tuesday.

Avants had been listed as an absconder by the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Tri-County Drug Task Force Investigator Mark Robinson reported that deputies received a tip about Avants, who was also being sought on warrants from Jefferson County.

When they went to the motel, the manager said Johnson had rented the room, Robinson said.

Kizer said Johnson opened the door when deputies went to the room and she was arrested because of an active misdemeanor warrant.

Johnson gave consent to search the room and Robinson reported that deputies found a smoking pipe, digital scales and a bag containing a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Kizer said both Avants and Johnson had extensive criminal histories.

Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth set a $25,000 bond for both Avants and Johnson after ruling prosecutors had probable cause to charge then with possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The judge appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent Avants and Johnson and told them to come back to court Feb. 28.