By Ray King
A pursuit by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Investigators Tuesday resulted in the arrest of two men on drug related charges.
Aubrey Cross, 34, of White Hall, and John Wright, 43, of Magnolia were taken into custody after the vehicle they were in stopped on Hutchinson Street while being pursued by deputies and tried to flee on foot.
At a court hearing Thursday, Deputy Prosecutor Jay Girard said Investigator Cody Musselwhite, Sgt. Fred Green and K-9 Sgt. Courtney Kelly were patrolling Mosley Street in the Dollarway area when they saw a black SUV and a white passenger car sitting side by side and blocking the street. When deputies attempted a traffic stop, the SUV, driven by Cross, refused to stop and drove toward Musselwhite, who had gotten out of his patrol car and was approaching the white passenger vehicle.
Girard said Musselwhite had to take evasive action to avoid being struck by the SUV and a pursuit ensued and during the pursuit, Wright, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the SUV threw out a bag which proved to contain suspected methamphetamine.
After Cross and Wright were in custody, deputies found a grey bag in the crotch area of Cross. The bag contained three smaller bags of suspected methamphetamine, three bags of assorted pills which tested positive for MDMA (Ecstasy), a bag containing 2.49 grams of a white powder that tested positive for cocaine, synthetic marijuana (K-2), and digital scales.
After hearing the facts, Pine Bluff District Judge John Kearney set a $10,000 bond for Wright after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge him with possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine and tampering with physical evidence. Wright is currently on parole and is list3ed as an absconder.
A $35,000 cash only bond was set for Cross on probable cause of four counts of possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver, fleeing, possession of drug paraphernalia and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Cross is also on parole and listed as an absconder, and has pending charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, forgery and theft of property.
