According to Searcy County Sheriff Kenny Cassell, on October 15 while on patrol, Searcy County Deputy Sgt. Kevin Trammell, noticed a Toyota pickup truck pulling a trailer that swerved and crossed the center-line on three separate occasions on Hwy. 65 south of Leslie. As the truck passed the Sutterfield Rock Yard near Leslie, Trammell initiated a traffic stop.

After approaching the vehicle and explaining to the driver, Justin Eugene Fenter, age 35 of Malvern, AR, the reason for the stop, Trammell detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the truck. Trammell asked Fenter for his driver's license, proof of insurance and registration, which he provided. Fenter explained to Trammell that he had a low tire on the trailer, which might cause the vehicle to swerve.

Trammell asked the passenger in the truck, Joey Dee Smith, age 37 of Fox, AR, for his driver's license and he provided Trammell with a military identification card.

Trammell ran Fenter and Smith's information through dispatch and learned that both men had prior drug charges and officer safety.  Fenter also had a search waiver on file with the crime information center.

Trammell contacted Marshall Police Office Sam Holliman and asked that he bring his K-9, Asan, to his location to conduct an air sniff around Fenter's vehicle. During the K-9 sniff, there was a positive alert on Fenter's vehicle.

Because of the positive alert, Trammell advised Fenter he would need to conduct a search of the vehicle. Marshall Police Chief Lang Holland arrived at the scene and watched Fenter and Smith while Trammell and Holliman conducted a search of the vehicle. In a concealed compartment in the center console area, officers located a small plastic bag containing marijuana and a rolling paper. A substance that appeared to be methamphetamine was located in three different locations within the truck.  Fenter and Smith were arrested and transported to the Searcy County Detention Center.

Twentieth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Carol Crews and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Freuhauf charged Fenter with possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, Class D felony and possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, Class A misdemeanor, and Smith was charged with possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, Class D felony. Their bond was set at $2,500 each which they posted. They are scheduled to appear in Searcy County Circuit Court in November to answer the charges filed against them.