Joshua David Phelps (DOC file photo)
Jason Pierce photo unavailable
By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — Two Cushing men, who were arrested in Stillwater after a narcotics dog indicated their vehicle should be searched for drugs, have been charged with trafficking 74.96 grams of methamphetamine and possessing a loaded 9 mm pistol in their truck.
The front-seat passenger, Joshua David Phelps, 42, who was already on probation for being a felon in possession of a gun in Payne County and having a drug in Lincoln County, remains held on $100,000 bail pending an April 3 court appearance.
The driver, Jason Robert Pierce, 44, who was jailed for two days before being freed on $75,000 bail, had been ordered to appear in court with an attorney on April 11 on the two-count charge punishable by as much as a life prison term plus 10 years on conviction.
The pair were arrested following a traffic stop at Virginia and Jardot at 5:15 pm on March 1 shortly after Stillwater Police Officer Josh Carson was contacted by an informant regarding “an enormous amount of drug activity” in the 2800 block of E Raintree, according to his affidavit.
“The caller stated they witnessed hand to hand drug deals outside and vehicle and foot traffic coming and going at all hours of the day and night. The caller stated they just witnessed a silver Chevrolet 1500 come and go from the area and believed it was involved in drug activity,” the affidavit alleged.
“I informed Jason I stopped him for speeding and for an illegal lane change. Jason told me he drove from Cushing to Stillwater to get something to eat. I confirmed with Jason they hadn’t been anywhere else before they were stopped. I had just observed Jason leaving the trailer park from Raintree,” Officer Carson wrote in his affidavit.
“While speaking with Jason, Detective Moore verbally indicated to me he observed Joshua Phelps making furtive movements toward the center console. While speaking with Jason, he told me he had a pistol in his truck,” which was subsequently searched after Detective McSpadden’s K9 partner alerted to the odor of drugs in the truck, Officer Carson alleged in his affidavit.
“I began a search of the vehicle and located packaging material, a set of digital scales with crystal residue on them, and two loaded syringes in the center console. A loaded 9 mm pistol was located in a holster between the driver’s seat and center console. Inside the glove compartment, a large amount of a crystal substance that appeared to be methamphetamine, more packaging material and digital scales were found,” Officer Carson alleged in his affidavit.
“During a search incident to arrest, I located a large sum of U.S. currency on Joshua. The currency was in different denominations and consistent with currency I have observed being used for selling drugs, often referred to as a ‘dealer wad,"” Officer Carson alleged in his affidavit.
“In total, 74.96 grams of methamphetamine, 14 hydrocodone pills, 16 diazepam pills, .65 grams of cocaine and 13 alprazolam pills were located along with $717,” the affidavit alleged.
In a jail interview with the driver the next day, “Jason told me he took Joshua to a house on Raintree but he did not know why. Jason stated he gets his methamphetamine from Joshua but did not know how the methamphetamine got into his vehicle. I concluded the interview because it was very apparent Jason was being deceitful. I gave Joshua an opportunity to speak with me, but he advised he wanted to speak with a lawyer. Joshua was not interviewed,”: Officer Carson alleged in his affidavit.
According to the state Department of Corrections, Joshua Phelps was placed on 10 years’ probation in August of 2021 for being a felon in possession of a firearm in Payne County; he was also placed on probation last November for one year, nine months and four days for drug possession in Lincoln County in 2020.
