A man is facing nearly a dozen charges in Fulton County after avoiding a sobriety checkpoint and later getting in a physical altercation with an Arkansas State Trooper.
According to an affidavit for warrant of arrest for 60-year-old Joey Owens, on May 18, troopers Blake Johnson and Jason Hooks were conducting a sobriety checkpoint on Hwy 395 in the Moko Curve when they noticed a white pickup truck turn around north of the of their location.
Johnson then proceeded in his patrol unit to intercept the vehicle turn on to Mill Creek Circle.
A traffic stop was made at which time Owens stated he was headed to the area to go fishing, but turned around prior to the checkpoint because he did not have a driver’s license or insurance.
Owens was instructed to exit the truck and asked if he was armed. Owens said no, and began to turn as though he was going to get in position for a pat-down ,but instead, walked toward the driver’s side of his truck while reaching into his pocket.
Johnson commanded Owens to stop and to show his hands drawing his service weapon in the process, but Owens made a sudden move toward the driver’s door rather than complying.
As Owens opened the door, Johnson pinned him between the door and the A-pillar. During the struggle, Owens threw an object into the air and continued to resist.
While in the process of being handcuffed, Owens took a swing at Johnson who returned a swing and landed his punch allowing him to finally secure Owens in handcuffs.
Owens was placed under arrest and transported to the Fulton County Jail. A search of his vehicle and person yielded, a broken marijuana pipe and broken meth pipe in the gravel where he had thrown the objects, a zip lock bag containing marijuana, two small plastic bags containing methamphetamine, a zip lock with THC gummies and two more glass smoking pipes.
As a result, Owens has been charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance, a class C felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a class D felony; tampering with physical evidence, a class D felony, resisting arrest, a class B misdemeanor; driving while license canceled, suspended or revoked; insurance required, ; no seat belt; failure to register a vehicle; fictitious tags; and equipment violation all unclassified misdemeanors and possession of a schedule VI controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor.
Bond for Owens has been set at $25,000.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
