By Ray King
A $50,000 bond was set Friday for a Rison man previously convicted of a felony who was arrested after a gun was found in the vehicle the man was driving.
Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth set the bond after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge Jerron Rankins, 46, of Rison with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Deputy Prosecutor Joe West said Rankins was arrested after an Arkansas State Police Special Agent responded to a report of an accident on Interstate 530 that was being worked by the State Police and Pine Bluff Police Department.
West said when Rankins was interviewed, he said he was traveling from Watson Chapel to Rison when an unknown person began shooting at him, causing him to lose control of his vehicle and crash. He did not receive any major injuries from the accident and was released from the hospital and taken to the detention center.
In addition to the felony allegation, Rankins was charged with driving on a suspended license and striking a fixed object. He was told to come back to court Oct. 31.
