(New Castle, DE 19720) Officers from the New Castle County Division of Police Mobile Enforcement Team (MET) have arrested 35-year-old Philip Epps from Pennsylvania in reference to firearm and drug dealing charges. 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.
During the contact with Epps, officers conducted a probable search of his vehicle. 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 to include packaging and scales.
Over $15,000.00 in suspected drug proceeds.
Philp 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
One misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia not related to personal use
Philip Epps 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.
###