A preliminary hearing has been continued for a Davenport man facing a felony drug count and two other charges following his arrest by a Lincoln County Deputy.
Rodney Dean Clark, 58, was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court July 26, 2024 with trafficking in illegal drugs, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while license is under suspension.
He appeared before Special Judge Emily Mueller and she set his bond at $25,000. He made his initial appearance Aug. 1 and the judge had scheduled his preliminary hearing for 9 a.m. on Sep. 13.
On that date, Judge Mueller continued the hearing until 9 a.m. Oct. 11.
Count 1, trafficking in illegal drugs, accuses Clark on July 24 of possessing more than 20 grams of methamphetamine, a Controlled Dangerous Drug.
Count 2, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, charges Clark with possessing a pipe and syringe which is used by abusers of drugs classified as CDS and without having any medical or other lawful need requiring possession of it.
The third count accuses him of operating a vehicle at Highway 66 and 3380 Road while his license to drive a vehicle was suspended.
Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff Cody Coleman, in a probable cause affidavit, states he was dispatched around 11:47 hours on July 24 to east of the Highway 66 and 3380 Road intersection located in Lincoln County.
He said while patrolling he observed a vehicle with no taillights on and the driver hit the brakes and turned on his turn signal indicating he was turning onto County Road 3380. Coleman noted he didn’t see the vehicle in the roadway until its brake lights were activated and the deputy was able to activate his brakes in time to narrowly miss striking the back of Clark’s vehicle.
Coleman said the vehicle came to a stop on the east side of the roadway and the deputy conducted a traffic stop and advised the driver of the reason for stopping him.
Clark identified himself and advised he had no driver’s license, nor did two passengers in the vehicle with him.
Coleman checked with his dispatch to see about any possible warrants and dispatch advised Clark had an active warrant in Lincoln County at the time.
Coleman stated that he asked Wellston Police Officer Casper Vinson and Chandler Police Officer Dax Phipps to respond to the area with him.
The deputy said he arrested Clark for driving under suspension and released the two passengers from the scene.