Two arrested after drugs, stolen gun allegedly found during traffic stop

A routine traffic stop Tuesday evening resulted in the arrest of a Hot Springs teen and an Arkadelphia man on felony and misdemeanor charges after drugs and a stolen gun were allegedly found.

Kaden Joffery King-Lewis, 18, of Hot Springs, and Kyler Jaden Phifer, 20, of Arkadelphia, were arrested shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday, with King-Lewis charged with a felony count of theft by receiving and Phifer charged with a crime. count of possession of a controlled substance, ecstasy, each punishable by up to six years in prison.

King-Lewis was also charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, and Phifer was charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia, each of which carries a sentence of up to up to one year in prison.

Both were released hours later on $3,500 bond and are scheduled to appear July 5 in Garland County District Court. According to court records, neither King-Lewis nor Phifer had a criminal history.

According to the probable cause affidavit, around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Hot Springs Police Cpl. Phillip Vanderburg was patrolling the area of ​​Summer Street and Albert Pike Road when he allegedly saw a silver Chrysler 300 making an illegal turn from Summer onto Albert Pike.

He also noted that the vehicle “crossed all lanes to join the outside lane, crossing a single white line.” He conducted a traffic stop and the vehicle stopped in the 100 block of North Patterson Street.

As Vanderburg exited his unit, he noticed that the rear passenger, later identified as King-Lewis, had rolled up his window. He asked him to take it down again and, in doing so, the police officer allegedly noticed “a strong odor of marijuana.”

He made contact with the driver, identified as Phifer, who had no identification on him but said he had the vehicle information. As Phifer reached to pick it up, Vanderburg allegedly spotted a jar containing marijuana residue on his seat.

The occupants were evacuated and the vehicle was searched with four bags of marijuana, a total of 25.6 grams, a pill identified as methyloxymethamphetamine, commonly known as ecstasy, a digital scale containing marijuana residue and a weapon. 9 mm handgun which has been determined. having been reported stolen in Garland County.

Phifer and King-Lewis were read their rights and questioned and Phifer allegedly stated that the ecstasy, digital scales and any marijuana found in the front seat belonged to him, but that no marijuana was found in the front . King-Lewis reportedly said the handgun and marijuana found on him, two baggies containing a total of 3.9 grams, belonged to him.

Phifer and King-Lewis were taken into custody at that time and, in addition to the felony and misdemeanor charges, Phifer was cited for taking an inappropriate turn.