From press releases

On February 26, 2022, law enforcement witnessed an individual in a pickup truck with a Texas license plate visit a camper located at the Caddo Valley Campground known to law enforcement as a methamphetamine distribution site.

Arkansas State Police Trooper Tim Callison conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle on Interstate 30 in Clark County. During the traffic stop, Trooper Callison located 2 pounds and 4 ounces of suspected methamphetamine in a compartment within the rear door and almost $5,000 in cash inside the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, Kenneth Mandrell of Hot Springs, was then taken into custody.

Also on February 26, 2022, Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Hall conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Glenn Hoover of Hot Springs, the owner of the camper. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and Hoover was found to be in possession of materials commonly used to package illegal narcotics. Hoover was then placed under arrest. Law enforcement then obtained a search warrant for Hoover’s camper. During the search, one kilogram of methamphetamine, various bags of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia were recovered.

Both individuals are facing charges filed by Prosecuting Attorney Dan Turner following their arrest. Kenneth Mandrell has been charged with Trafficking a Controlled Substance, a Class Y Felony. Glenn Hoover has been charged with Trafficking a Controlled Substance, a Class Y Felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II, a Class D Felony, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Class A Misdemeanor.

In a separate case, a Hot Springs man was arrested this week for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

Law enforcement authorities seized seven pounds of methamphetamine in Clark County on March 21. The seizure occurred after Callison stopped a vehicle on I-30 after observing a moving violation. 

Callison detected an odor of marijuana and, after performing a search of the vehicle, discovered four grams of marijuana in the vehicle’s interior and seven pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk of the vehicle. 

Investigator Roy Bethell with Group 6 Drug Task Force also participated in the investigation, which included seizure of the methamphetamine as well as additional cash discovered in the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, Brandon Mallory of Hot Springs, was taken into custody and now faces charges of drug trafficking. The methamphetamine, which had a street value of over $65,000, was contained in seven separate packages which were all located inside a garbage bag in the trunk of the rental car Mallory was driving.

Turner commended the Arkansas State Police, Drug Task Force officers and Clark County Sheriff’s Office for their efforts in apprehending the subject and the subsequent investigation and seizure. 

“Thanks to diligence and great work by these law enforcement officers and their agencies, they have prevented the delivery of a substantial amount of deadly drugs from being distributed to members of the community,” Turner said. “I am grateful for the hard work these officers are putting in every day to keep our community safe.

Mallory is being held at the Clark County Detention Center and faces charges for trafficking a controlled substance, a Class Y felony, and unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate a crime, a Class B felony. Turner’s office has also filed a civil forfeiture action for the confiscation of the cash seized from the vehicle.

Clark County Sheriff Jason Watson said, “We are committed to investigating and apprehending those who traffic drugs in our county and surrounding communities. I appreciate the hard work of every agency involved.”