Suspicious-vehicle report leads to 2 drug arrests

Two local residents were arrested after Columbus police were sent to check on a report of a suspicious vehicle.

Columbus police officer Alyson Rech went to a parking lot in the 2400 block of Beam Road at 8:40 p.m. Friday after a witness reported two suspicious men inside a vehicle, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.

When Rech arrived, she saw that the passenger, later identified as Phillip L. Thompson, 23, 2247 McKinley Ave., was holding a plastic needle cap that he attempted to hide, Harris said.

Officers confirmed Thompson had two warrants for his arrest and he was taken into custody, Harris said.

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A police canine alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle, Harris said.

The driver, Joshua D. Fox, 28, 1481 Heights Court, left the vehicle and officers found two syringes which contained a liquid substance which later tested positive for heroin, Harris said.

A glass pipe and marijuana also were located near the driver’s seat, Harris said.

Fox was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of heroin, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a legend drug-injection device, Harris said.

Thompson is being held in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $700 cash bond, jail officials said. Fox was released from the jail after posting $20,500 bond, jail officials said.