JONESBORO, Ark. — Prosecutors have dropped all five charges against Johnny Latroy Wilbourn in a case alleging he fled a traffic stop and discarded 25.55 grams of suspected cocaine.
An order of nolle prosequi signed Sept. 3 and filed Sept. 4 granted the state’s request to end the prosecution. The order cited “prosecutorial discretion and/or plea negotiations in the best interest of justice.”
Immediately below that explanation, the order states, “The video file on the jump drive is inaccessible and cannot be opened or viewed.”
NEA Report contacted Sonia Hagood for comment, but she did not respond.
The order does not identify a plea agreement or expressly state that the inaccessible video was the sole reason for dismissing the case. It also does not state that the dismissal was with prejudice.
Wilbourn had faced three felony charges: possession of between 10 and 200 grams of methamphetamine or cocaine, tampering with physical evidence and fleeing. He was also charged with driving on a canceled, suspended or revoked license and having no proof of liability insurance.
The allegations originated with a June 7, 2025, traffic stop near Nell Drive and Airport Road.
According to a probable cause affidavit, officers stopped a brown Jeep Cherokee because they could not confirm its insurance coverage. After checking Wilbourn’s license information, officers learned his Arkansas driver’s license was suspended and asked him to exit the vehicle.
The affidavit alleges Wilbourn shifted the vehicle into drive and fled through a gravel parking lot, nearly striking another officer who was arriving to assist. Police said he drove south through the Airport Road and Nettleton Avenue intersection, continued to the dead end of Nelms Street and then fled on foot.
Officers attempted to track him with a police dog but reported that foot traffic in the area prevented the dog from establishing a track.
Agent Jeremy Parnell of the 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force later returned to the original traffic-stop location and found a clear bag containing 25.55 grams of suspected cocaine in the grass near the gravel drive, according to the affidavit.
Parnell subsequently reviewed surveillance footage from a nearby business. The affidavit alleges the video showed Wilbourn throw a white bag from the driver’s window and that it landed in the same area where the suspected cocaine was found. Investigators reported that no vehicles or people entered the area between the alleged disposal and the discovery of the bag.
The dismissal order does not specify whether the inaccessible file was that surveillance recording.
A court initially found probable cause for the charges and set Wilbourn’s bond at $100,000 cash or surety. The dismissal order also directed the seizing agency to destroy the remaining nonfirearm evidence in the case.
All suspects are innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law – and stories like these are why we say that.
SHARE THIS STORY WITH OTHERS:
Discover more from NEA Report
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Be the first to comment