Accused meth trafficker found passed out in Laurel County parking lot, police claim

LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) — A man accused of trafficking methamphetamine was reportedly found passed out behind the wheel of his car Friday morning in a Laurel County Dollar General parking lot.

The London Police Department noted in an arrest citation that, at 8:54 a.m., Nicholas Phillips, 36, was found hanging partially out of the vehicle with the door open while unconscious.

LPD said that after being woken up, Phillips had severely constricted pupils with bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. His pupils were said to be unresponsive to light during testing.

Phillips reportedly told the police that he smoked marijuana and nothing else, and LPD confirmed his vehicle smelled strongly of marijuana.

While searching the vehicle, the police found a black zip-up bag with a crystal-like substance in Phillips’ seat that was believed to be meth, according to the citation. The substance weighed about 16.5 grams.

The police said a Q-tip box with roughly 3 grams of meth was also reportedly found inside the car, along with numerous plastic baggies and scales with meth residue on the surface.

After placing Phillips under arrest, the police said a handgun was found under the driver’s seat.

He was booked into the Laurel County Correctional Center and charged with:

• Public intoxication on a controlled substance, excluding alcohol
• Buying or possessing drug paraphernalia
• First-degree trafficking in a controlled substance—methamphetamine

Court records show he has a hearing scheduled at 11 a.m. on June 24. He’s being held on a $25,000 cash bond.