A 46-year-old Wildwood man was taken into custody on several felony drug and weapons charges after a SWAT squad raided his apartment early Thursday morning.
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and Special Investigations Squad executed a search warrant at Taurus Wytemo Phillips’ residence at 370 NW 8th Ave., Apt. B, in Webster, and arrested him.
According to the arrest report, a search of Phillips’ bedroom uncovered a considerable haul of drugs, firearms, and paraphernalia, including a 12-gauge Saiga-12 shotgun discovered in the closet and a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun loaded with six rounds recovered behind the bedroom door. More than 100 grams of marijuana were discovered in a plastic baggie, a fanny pack hanging from the bedpost, and tucked between two speakers in the closet. In addition, more than 18 grams of cocaine were discovered, including crack cocaine on the dresser and in the pocket of a shirt in the closet, as well as powder cocaine in another shirt’s pocket. The SWAT squad also found six rounds of 12-gauge buckshot and 30 rounds of. 40-caliber ammo and 39 rounds of 9mm ammunition in a dresser drawer. There was also drug paraphernalia, such as an orange digital scale, a metal spoon with cocaine residue, a glass jar with marijuana residue, and several unused plastic baggies that are typically used for packaging and distributing narcotics.
Deputies also discovered prescription medicine bottles with Phillips’ name in the drawer, as well as a wallet holding his identification concealed inside a pair of slacks on his bed. A criminal background check revealed that Phillips is a convicted felon.
Phillips, commonly known as “Big Phil,” provided a Wildwood address when he was arrested at the Sumter County Detention Center, despite the fact that the raid occurred in Webster. He is charged with multiple offenses, including possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, maintaining a structure used to sell drugs, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon (two counts), possession of ammunition by a convicted felon (three counts), and possession of drug equipment with intent to distribute.
He was being held without bond at the jail.
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