Officers from the New Castle County Division of Police Mobile Enforcement Team (MET) arrested 35-year-old Philip Epps from Pennsylvania in reference to firearm and drug dealing charges.
Officials said over the past week, officers received information about a suspect selling crack cocaine and fentanyl near the unit block of Memorial Drive in New Castle. On February 28, 2023, MET officers conducted surveillance of the Memorial Drive location. After establishing probable cause, the officers were able to conduct a vehicle stop on the suspect’s motor vehicle at which time they identified the driver as Philip Epps said police.
During the contact with Epps, officers conducted a probable cause search of his vehicle. Officials said while searching the vehicle officers discovered a hidden trap that contained the following:
682 bags of heroin, 8.8 ounces of crack cocaine, 16.41 grams of marijuana, a 9MM handgun with an obliterated serial number, a 45-caliber handgun, 37 rounds of ammunition, drug paraphernalia including packaging and scales. Over $15,000.00 in suspected drug proceeds were also found added police.
Epps was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters and charged with two counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, One felony count of Manufacture/Deliver/Possession with intent to deliver a substance in a tier 3 quantity, one felony count of possession of a controlled substance in a tier 3 quantity, two felony counts of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, one felony count of Manufacture/Deliver/Possession with intent to deliver a substance in a tier 2 quantity, one felony count of possession of a weapon with an obliterated serial number, two felony counts of carrying a concealed deadly weapon, one felony count of possession of a controlled substance in a tier 2 quantity, and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia not related to personal use.
He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $128,000.00 cash bail.
