Traffic stop leads to an arrest

On March 6, Hempstead County Deputy Kyle Malone conducted a traffic stop for an expired vehicle registration on county road 21.

The driver was identified as 25-year-old Ricardo Villeda of Little Rock.

Malone discovered Villeda’s license had been suspended and he had previous arrests for possession of controlled substance.

Villeda refused to allow Malone search his vehicle, but Malone discovered a warrentless search waiver on file for Villeda and searched the vehicle. Malone discovered a firearm under the console along with an empty magazine next to the handgun along with a box of ammunition.

Villeda was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a certain person. After running the serial number of the firearm, authorities discovered the weapon had been reported stolen in Alabama. So, Villeda was charged with a second count of theft by receiving.