Hot Springs police arrested two local felons allegedly in possession of guns in separate incidents Monday evening and early Tuesday.
James Isaiah Johnson, 30, who lists a Lafayette Street address, and Jason Taylor Brown, 36, of 105 Palmetto Drive, were each charged with a felony count of possession of a firearm by certain persons, punishable by up to six years in prison.
According to the affidavit of Johnson's arrest, shortly before 7 p.m. Monday, Officer 1st Class Richard Davis made a traffic stop on a tan Buick after noting it had expired tags and made contact with the driver, identified as Johnson.
A computer check showed he was on probation with a search waiver on file. According to court records, Johnson was convicted of felony fleeing on April 6 in Garland County and sentenced to five years' probation. He was previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, with purpose to deliver on March 12 in Miller County and sentenced to three years' probation.
Davis had Johnson step out to search the car and Johnson reportedly told him there was a gun in the glove compartment. Davis located the gun, a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber, loaded with 10 rounds. In searching Johnson, he reportedly found two .40-caliber rounds in his pants pocket that matched the ones in the gun.
Johnson was arrested at that point on the possession of a firearm charge in addition to a citation for failing to register the vehicle. He was later released on a $2,500 bond and is set to appear on Oct. 14 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit on Brown, shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday, Officer Zach Hoofman responded to 105 Palmetto Drive regarding a disturbance in progress.
Hoofman and Officer Kevin Moore saw a man, later identified as Brown, pick up a rifle from the front porch and place it inside the residence once at the scene.
When questioned about the gun, Brown reportedly admitted to having it earlier and that he was a felon, but he "could still defend himself." A computer check confirmed Brown was convicted April 21, 2008, of a felony count of simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm so he was taken into custody for having the gun.
The gun, an AM-15 rifle loaded with 13 rounds of .223 ammunition, was located in the first bedroom in the house and seized. Brown also had warrants for contempt of court and failure to pay out of district court.
Brown remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of a $5,000 bond and is set to appear today in district court.