Traffic stop leads to drug arrest in Reynoldsville Borough

REYNOLDSVILLE BOROUGH, PA (EYT) — An Ohio man faces felony drug charges following a traffic stop in the Reynoldsville neighborhood.

Court documents show that DuBois-based state police have filed criminal charges against a 33-year-old man Joseph Alexander Phillipsof Brookfield, Ohio, in the chambers of District Judge David B. Inzana on June 10.

According to a criminal complaint, at approximately 7:30 p.m. on March 30, PSP DuBois Corporal Daniel Henry was driving an unmarked Pennsylvania State Police vehicle while patrolling Main Street in the Reynoldsville neighborhood of Jefferson County.

Corporal Henry observed a Hyundai traveling westbound on Main Street with one headlight out of service. At that point, Corporal Henry turned around and pulled behind the vehicle, a Hyundai Sonata with temporary Ohio license plates. Corporal Henry then activated his emergency lights and siren and conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Main Street and N. 4th Street, the complaint states.

Corporal Henry approached the passenger side of the vehicle and explained the reasons for the stop and asked for a driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance. During the conversation, Corporal Henry detected a strong odor of raw marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and asked where the marijuana was located inside the vehicle. The passenger stated that the driver had just smoked at the friend’s house, the complaint states.

The complaint states that Corporal Henry returned to the patrol vehicle and identified the driver as Joseph Phillips. He then approached the vehicle and asked the passenger if he could search the vehicle. The passenger gave verbal consent to the vehicle being searched. After asking the occupants to exit the vehicle, Officer Anderson seized a white THC vape pen from Phillips.

Corporal Henry then conducted a search of the vehicle, which resulted in the discovery of raw marijuana in the glove compartment. The marijuana and THC vape pen was seized, according to the complaint.

After conducting the search, the passenger claimed the marijuana belonged to Phillips, the complaint continues.

Phillips was charged with the following counts:

• Manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, felony
• Intentional possession of a controlled substance by an unregistered person, misdemeanor

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 24 at 10:15 a.m., presided over by Judge Inzana.