A Phelan man with a felony warrant was arrested in Victorville on Wednesday, January 29, after a deputy discovered drug paraphernalia in his vehicle during a routine traffic stop.
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Deputy K. Raglin conducted a traffic stop at approximately 12:39 p.m. on a 2012 Nissan sedan near Verde Street and Center Street for vehicle code violations. A records check revealed the driver, 53-year-old Phillip Stark, had an outstanding felony warrant for burglary, was on parole, and did not possess a valid driver’s license.
During the investigation, deputies searched Stark’s vehicle and found drug paraphernalia. Due to multiple prior drug-related convictions, Stark was arrested and booked into the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto. He faces charges under Health & Safety Code 11395(B)(1) for possession of a controlled substance with two or more prior convictions.
The arrest comes after the recent passage of Proposition 36, also known as The Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, which took effect on December 18, 2024. The new law strengthens penalties for certain drug-related offenses and allows law enforcement to impose enhanced sentencing, preventing some offenders from being released before their court appearance.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Victorville Police Station at (760) 241-2911 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the We-Tip hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or online at www.wetip.com.
