Burlington Officers Make Arrest in Drug Trafficking Case

Burlington, WA.  On September 19, 2014 around 11:32 Pm, Burlinigton Officers observed an equipment violation on a white Jeep Grand Cherokee as it traveled in the 500 block of Greenleaf Avenue in Burlington.  The vehicle did not have any tail lights turned on despite the hours of darkness.

According to an Affidavit of Arrest provided via a public records request, as officers attempted to stop the vehicle, it turned into an address on East Vernon Avenue in Burlington.

As the driver stepped out of the vehicle, Burlington Police made contact with the driver.  The driver  verbally identified himself as Phillip Bunney. Police later confirmed his identity through previous booking photographs. While speaking with Mr. Bunney about the tail light issue, officers noticed a handgun sticking out of the center console of the vehicle. They noticed the hammer was cocked back and appeared to be in a position that was ready to fire.

A routine check of Mr. Bunney’s Criminal history revealed he is a convicted felon and is prohibited from Possessing a firearm.

Burlington Police obtained a warrant to recover the firearm and search for other  firearms and ammunition.  While executing the search, they found a large amount of suspected methamphetamine, heroin and suspected stolen property in the vehicle.

On September 23rd, 2014 they applied for an received a second warrant to search for evidence of controlled substance violations, and possession of stolen property. Detectives from The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, Skagit County  Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit took over the investigation.

The vehicle was searched around 5 pm the same day. During the search of the vehicle, no female related or influenced items were located.  There was a backpack that contained a Washington State Id Card with Phillip Bunney’s name on it. There were several electronic tables, such as an iPad mini, a Kindle Fire and a Samsung Tablet in the backpack. There was also an iPhone, a digital camera, several ledgers and a laptop Computer. The iPad Mini was confirmed stolen in the previous  two weeks from a house in Ferndale, Washington.

In the center console, detectives found a green bin that was full of drug related paraphernalia and narcotics.  There was a large chunk of suspected methamphetamine found inside of a red plastic, a roll of aluminum foil, a box of empty Ziploc  Sandwich bags, a white plastic container that contained a Ziploc sandwich bag with more suspected methamphetamine and more empty Ziploc baggies. There were two digital scales with small amounts of suspected heroin on them. A zippered black bag that contained a chunk of dark brown substance that was later identified as heroin.

There were several bottles of unlabeled pills. They contained a total of 25 various prescription pills. They were packed in ‘dime” bags. The pills require prescriptions, most are used  to treat anxiety. There were three tooter straws with suspected heroin residue on them. A leather Billfold was found that contained $862.00 in cash and four fentanyl transdermal patches were found.

Several sensitive documents were also found. These included Birth Certificates, Marriage Licenses, Vehicle Titles, Veterans Benefits paperwork. Each of these documents came from different states. In total there were over 27.7 grams of Methamphetamine, 5.3 grams of heroin,   25 various prescription pills, 1 bullet, and $862.69 in cash.

Several tools were located in the vehicle and most of them either had the serial numbers were partially removed or were marked with other peoples initials. It is common practice for people to mark their tools with their initials if the tools don’t have serial numbers on them.  A Makita Hammer was marked with the initials Joe J on it. A large pair of bolt cutters were marked IM&C. A small tv in the car was marked with Airway Heights Corrections Center-Do not remove. It also was marked with a DOC number on the back. It is common for inmates to label their items with their DOC number while in prison. An iPhone found in the backpack appeared to have been wiped and only had 1 contact in it. The identifier on the phone said “Splatt’s iPhone.”

In Looking through the ledger officers found “how to make Methamphetamine” recipes and in another ledger Prices/quantities of drugs sold were listed.

The Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit had received several tips regarding Mr. Bunney and his involvement with selling drugs in Skagit County.

The vehicle is registered to Phillips Sister in Sedro Woolley.  The officer said, “It is not uncommon for people involved in drug trafficking to put the ownership of their vehicles, often in family member or girlfriend names, in order to hide the true identity of the owner.  The tactic can be used to facilitate drug trafficking behavior.”

The Affidavit  of arrest states that it is evident with the items located in the vehicle that Phillip Bunney was driving that he is involved in the illegal delivery of Methamphetamine, heroin and prescription medications in Skagit County. In addition, the packaging materials, and quantity of drugs found indicate “dealer level” as they exceed any amount for personal use.  Stolen property is also commonly used to trade for drugs. Stolen property was confirmed found in the vehicle. In addition, a fully loaded handgun, cocked with a bullet in the chamber was found tucked between the driver’s seat and the center console.

A check with the Burlington Edison Bus Garage indicated numerous elementary bus stops within a 1000’ of the address he lived at and allegedly dealt drugs from. Because of this, a school zone enhancement is added to his charges.

Mr. Bunney is Currently being held in the Skagit County Jail for Possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver:meth, Possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver: Heroin, Possession of a Legend Drug-6 counts, Maintaing a vehicle for drug trafficking, School Zone Enhancement, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm 1st degree and Possession of Stolen Property 2nd degree.

 

*Note: All subjects are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of Law.