Ponder Found with Drugs at Walmart Parking Lot

A suspected drug dealer was arrested last week after officers checked out a suspicious vehicle at Walmart and found the driver slumped over the steering wheel of his pickup truck. The man, 39 year old Michael Alex Ponder of Robinson Road, Smithville, appeared to be intoxicated and he had on him methamphetamine and suboxone. He was also in possession of a handgun.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL- Intakes & Releases From: 3/27/2017 Thru: 4/03/2017)
Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR_17.pdf (2.94 MB)
Ponder is charged with driving under the influence, driving while in possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine for sale, delivery, or process, and possession of a handgun under the influence. Ponder was further cited for violation of the implied consent law and for simple possession of a schedule III drug. His bond totals $16,500 and his court date is April 27.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Friday, March 31 a deputy responded to Walmart Drive due to a suspicious white Ford Ranger setting in the parking lot. The officer noticed the driver was slumped over the steering wheel. After several attempts, the deputy was able to awaken the man, Ponder. His eyes were bloodshot and watery and his speech was slurred. Ponder performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and he was placed under arrest.
A search of Ponder’s person produced two round white containers. In one of the containers, the officer found a baggie of a crystal like substance believed to be meth weighing 0.4 grams. In another container was two halves of a pill believed to be suboxone. A zip lock bag pouch was also found in his jacket pocket. In a black pouch, the deputy found three baggies of a crystal like substance believed to be meth. Individual weights were 3.7 grams, 1.1 grams, and 1.3 grams. The total weight of all the baggies was 6.5 grams. The substances field tested positive for meth.
A Smith & Wesson 40 caliber handgun was recovered from the floor board on the driver side. The officer conducting the search reported that he observed Ponder take something, believed to be the gun, from the small of his back and drop it on the floor board of the vehicle.
The cash found on Ponder during the investigation was also seized.