Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — June 6, 2025 — A Jonesboro man is behind bars on a $100,000 cash/surety bond after agents said they found meth that had been thrown by him while trying to get away from them.
According to the affidavit, on June 4, investigators with the Jonesboro Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit were conducting criminal patrol at E. Johnson Avenue and Scott Street when they saw a 53-year-old Gary Dewayne Hayward riding on his bicycle. Hayward was noted to have two warrants for failure to pay fines.
An investigator attempted to make contact with Hayward by pulling up beside him. Hayward steered his bicycle into the front yard of a home on Scott Street. Another investigator who was following the two saw Hayward toss a plastic bag on the ground, and soon Hayward was arrested.
The affidavit said that the second investigator went back to the front yard and found the bag, noting it “was still wet to the touch.” A few feet from the investigator’s location, another plastic bag was found, containing what was suspected to be meth. Several crystalized rocks also suspected to be meth were found near the bag.
On June 6, Craighead County Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause to charge Hayward with possession of meth or cocaine greater than two grams but less than 10 grams and tampering with physical evidence.
The affidavit noted that Hayward has a “long history” of crime, having prior violations of court orders.
Hayward’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 31.
