Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – April 10, 2024 – A Paragould man was arrested by a Craighead County sheriff’s deputy Tuesday afternoon, April 9, following a traffic stop on Highway 351, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Joseph Straub, 64, was driving a white sport utility vehicle when it crossed the center line multiple times, Deputy Cody Ladner reported.
Straub told Ladner that he was a convicted felon and had a firearm on him. The deputy removed a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun from Straub’s waistband. When asked, Straub said he had a small amount of methamphetamine in his vehicle.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a loaded Taurus 9 mm handgun, another loaded Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun and a loaded Palmetto AR-15 style rifle.
Ladner also found 6.36 grams of methamphetamine, a glass meth pipe, digital scales and empty plastic bags suspected to be used to package meth.
On Wednesday, special Judge Barbara Halsey found probable cause to charge Straub with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, a class Y felony, possession of firearms by a certain person, a class B felony, possession of methamphetamine greater than 2 grams by less than 10 grams with the purpose to deliver, a class B felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B felony.
Halsey set Straub’s bond at $150,000. His next court date is May 22 in Craighead County Circuit Court.