Mount Ida couple arrested on felony drug charges

The following article was provided by the Garland County Sherrif's office but written by Steven M. Ross of the Sentinel-Record staff.

A Mount Ida couple were arrested early Thursday after drugs and paraphernalia were allegedly found in their vehicle after a routine traffic stop.

John Hershel Phillips, 41, and Christina R. Phillips, 33, who both list an address of 6196 Highway 270 east, were taken into custody shortly after 2:30 a.m. and each charged with felony counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamines, punishable by up to six years.

According to reports, around 2 a.m. Garland County Sheriff’s deputies Shawn McKinney and Richard Huffman stopped a white Toyota in the 7400 block of Albert Pike for speeding and Huffman made contact with the driver, identified as John Phillips, and passenger, identified as Christina Phillips.

The deputy reportedly noticed a syringe in the driver’s side floorboard as he was talking to the driver and asked them both to step out. McKinney asked them if either of them was diabetic and when they said, “No,” he asked about the syringe.

John Phillips allegedly admitted he used it to “shoot meth.” The deputies then searched the vehicle and behind the glove box they found two boxes of Allegra-D and a small black handbag containing a scale, two syringes, a spoon, two straws, four capsules with white powder and a contact case also containing a white powder substance.

They also located hydrogen peroxide, lighter fuel and three boxes of matches under the passenger seat, all items used in the manufacture of meth.

The suspects reportedly told them they didn’t know all those things were in their car, but the Allegra-D boxes had Christina Phillips’ name on them.

They were both being held in lieu of $7,500 bond and are set to appear Feb. 28 in Hot Springs District Court.