By Ray King
A $20,000 cash-only bond was set Friday for a Pine Bluff man currently on probation after police found a handgun on his person while patting him down for officer safety.
Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth set the bond after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge Tariq Jefferson, 22, with theft by receiving, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Reading from a probable cause affidavit from Detective Jeremy Crosby, Deputy Prosecutor Shana Alexander said on Dec. 8th, officers stopped a vehicle driven by Jefferson at I-530 and Olive Street because the license tags were expired. A records check showed that Jefferson was on probation and had a search warrant waiver on file.
He was asked to step out of the vehicle and during a pat down search, officers felt the bulge of a magazine and removed a Glock Model 22 .40-caliber handgun from Jefferson’s pants. The gun had one found in the chamber and an extended magazine containing 20 rounds. A check of the serial number showed the gun had been reported stolen in Little Rock.
Alexander said officers also found two additional magazines containing a total of 15 rounds.
Court documents showed that Jefferson was placed on probation for theft by receiving and has a pending charge of two counts of aggravated assault. He said he would hire his own attorney.
