PARAGOULD, Ark. – Although traffic infractions can be minor, they can also lead police to discovering more serious crimes, as was the case recently in Paragould.
On April 23, 2024, Paragould officers observed a black 2023 Chevy Tahoe traveling northbound on Highway 49 while speeding. The vehicle reportedly traveled at 71 miles per hour in a 45 zone. Officers initiated the traffic stop based on this, the PC affidavit says.
Officers made contact with the driver, Jeremiah Northern. During the stop, police reported a strong odor of marijuana from inside of the vehicle. Police noticed a hand-rolled cigar that Northern reportedly acknowledged as weed.
But officers noticed something else during the stop, A Glock 22 was positioned near the console on the passenger side of the vehicle. After officers checked the gun, they found it had been stolen out of Trumann.
Northern was arrested for theft by receiving, a class D felony, along with misdemeanor possession and the traffic offense.
In a separate incident, on April 24, Paragould police made a traffic stop on a vehicle for expired registration. During the stop, police deployed a K9 for a free air sniff around the vehicle. The dog pulled the officer to the driver’s door, the affidavit alleges, then alerted by lying down when the door was opened.
Inside of the vehicle, police located 1.8 grams of meth in a small bag.
Braley Tyler Clark faces charges including felony possession and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia.
If you’re going to be a career criminal paying attention to those little details like speed limits and vehicle tags can reduce interruptions by law enforcement. Just sayin’.