Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — Aug. 1, 2025 — A Jonesboro man is facing multiple drug possession and trafficking charges after police said a routine traffic stop unraveled a drug investigation that ended with the suspect flushing evidence down a jail toilet.

On July 29, agents with the Second Judicial Drug Task Force conducted surveillance at the home of 41-year-old Shannon Lashun Ray in the 3000 block of Meador Road.

According to an affidavit, Ray was known by agents to be a source of supply for drugs, including fentanyl and used the address as his “stash house.”

During surveillance, agents saw Ray get into a vehicle, drive to a home in the 100 block of Wildwood Court, and park in the driveway. In the home’s garage, a person could be seen walking around wearing a white shirt and jean-style shorts, but due to the door being open halfway, the agents could not see their face. Ray stayed there briefly before leaving and driving on Main Street.

The affidavit said that investigators with the Jonesboro Police Department Street Crimes Unit stopped Ray near Main and Oak Street for failing to use his turn signal multiple times and having a tinted front windshield. A K9 performed an exterior sniff of the vehicle with a positive alert.

During a search of the vehicle, 516 grams of suspected marijuana were found separated into a couple of bags with multiple weights, including a nine-gram bag and a 486-gram bag. Additionally, 21 grams were found inside a jar. Investigators also found two cell phones and a package of rolling papers.

Ray was taken into custody, with police noting that he was wearing the same attire as the person seen in the garage at the Wildwood Court home.

Craighead County Judge David Boling authorized a search warrant for the home, which was executed by agents July 30. The search resulted in the following being found:

  • Multiple digital scales
  • Two unknown pills
  • 275 grams of marijuana separated into three jars
  • 4 grams of fentanyl
  • 26 blue M-30 fentanyl pills
  • 5 grams of meth
  • A hydrocodone pill
  • An MGM card with Ray’s name on it

The affidavit said while at the Craighead County Detention Center, an investigator reviewed his in-car camera and saw Ray contouring his body in the back seat. In the footage, he maneuvered his hands to reach around to the area of his genitals, causing his pants to pull down.

He then reached around to his rectum, making movements that the investigator said looked like he was trying to put something inside there.

Although jail staff were unable to find anything through an initial body scan, the affidavit said the supervisor read the scan and advised something was there. Ray was removed from his cell and told that a second scan would be conducted, at which point he immediately ran off toward the booking bathroom and slammed the door, causing the door to lock, the affidavit said.

Jail staff then heard the toilet flush and by the time the door was opened, no drugs were found.

On Aug. 1, Circuit Judge Barbara Halsey found probable cause to charge Ray with trafficking of fentanyl, possession of meth or cocaine with the purpose to deliver greater than two grams but less than 10 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a Schedule VI substance with the purpose to deliver.

Ray is being held on a $250,000 cash/surety bond in the Craighead County Detention Center. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 30.