Utah fugitive arrested in Nevada on drug, forgery charges
Dec 28, 2021, 8:28 AM
(Mesquite Police Department/Facebook)
MESQUITE, Nev. — A 35-year-old man from South Salt Lake was arrested in Nevada on dozens of felony charges, including forgery, possession of various drugs and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Detectives were informed of the active felony parole violation arrest warrant on James Buice Phillips Wednesday. Utah Parole and Probation also told them he was possibly staying in Mesquite.
Police said he was later found at a hotel.
“While taking him into custody, they observed evidence of criminal activity inside his hotel room,” read a press release from the Mesquite Police Department.
After obtaining a search warrant, detectives entered Phillips’ hotel room to find methamphetamine, heroin, and evidence of a check forgery lab.
Police said the South Salt Lake man also had close to 90 forged checks written out to him.
“The male was also in possession of a stolen moving van that was parked near the hotel room,” the release stated.
Phillips is under investigation for dozens of charges, including:
- 58 felony counts of forgery
- 27 felony counts of possession with intent to utter fictitious note
- Seven felony counts of attempt to possess identifying information of another
- Felony possession of heroin
- Felony possession of methamphetamine
- Felony possession of a forgery lab
- Felony possession of a stolen vehicle
- Fugitive from justice from another state
“Due to the felony charges, Phillips was transported to the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada,” police said.