Traffic stop ends in drug arrest
STEVEN MROSS
The Sentinel-Record
A routine traffic stop early Wednesday led to the arrest of a local man on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges and the recovery of numerous illegal drugs and cash. Bryan John Brancaccio, 25, who lists an address of 108 Yellowpine Court, was taken into custody around midnight in the 5500 block of Central Avenue and charged with felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, hydrocodone, with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver, punishable by up to 10 years, and possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, with intent to deliver and possession of a controlled substance, cocaine, each punishable by up to six years, and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was still being held Wednesday afternoon in lieu of $14,500 bond and is set to appear March 4 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, Garland County sheriff’s Deputy Clayton Green was on patrol on Central near Amity Road when he saw a silver 1997 Toyota 4-Runner southbound in front of him that didn’t have a license plate light, and a driver’s side brake light that wasn’t working.
He stopped the vehicle and made contact with the driver, identified as Brancaccio, and while checking his driver’s license and insurance he noted a strong smell of marijuana. He got him to step out and asked if there was marijuana in the car, and Brancaccio indicated there might be a jar of it.
The deputy reportedly located a clear glass jar with suspected marijuana in the back seat floorboard, so the suspect was taken into custody and the vehicle was searched further.
Green then found a red plastic container in the back pocket of the driver’s seat that held three individual bags of marijuana. He also found another jar of marijuana, for a total amount of 20 grams.
He allegedly found a large stack of cash clipped together under the passenger seat and additional rolls of bills in the glove compartment and the suspect’s jacket pocket for a total of $5,390.
He found a small bag that held a glass pipe with marijuana residue, and a small bag with several rocks of what later field tested positive for crack cocaine, approximately 1 gram. He also found a small vial containing white powder, approximately 0.5 grams, that tested positive for cocaine, 10 pills determined to be hydrocodone, and a small jar of hash, approximately 1 gram.
Agents with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force responded and began processing the scene and confiscated the drugs and cash. The DTF is comprised of officers with the GCSD, Hot Springs police and Arkansas State Police.
