By: Sachet A. Sullivan | The Zion Times
A Cedar City man is facing multiple felony charges, including aggravated kidnapping, after a routine traffic stop in Washington County led investigators to allegations that a woman had been held against her will for several days inside a Cedar City apartment.
According to court documents filed in 5th District Court, Rylan Matthew Phillips, 26, was arrested by the Cedar City Police Department after a woman reported she had been threatened with a firearm and restrained inside an apartment for approximately four days.
The alleged incident took place at the Stratford Court Apartments in Cedar City.
The woman told investigators that Phillips, whom she identified as her boyfriend, prevented her from leaving the residence and took her phone so she could not contact anyone. She also said that when he did allow her to make calls, he monitored the conversations and told her what to say.
According to her statement, the situation lasted from Feb. 23 through Feb. 27. During that time, she reported Phillips allegedly blocked exits, shoved her to the ground and struck her during arguments.
Officers later documented bruising on her face and arms consistent with her statement.
Additionally, the woman told investigators that Phillips pointed a loaded firearm at her multiple times during the four day incident, which she identified as a Glock 43X and stated that she feared for her life.
Phillips reportedly told the victim she would not be able to leave until she signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) on Phillip’s computer, however, the court documents do not specify what the NDA was in regards to. The victim stated that under duress and fear for her safety, she agreed to sign the document.
According to investigators, the woman was allowed to leave on Feb. 27, though she returned to Phillips later.
THE TRAFFIC STOP THAT TRIGGERED THE INVESTIGATION
On March 2, the couple was stopped by law enforcement in Washington County, where authorities allegedly discovered large quantities of multiple controlled substances in their possession.
According to the affidavit, a Washington County sheriff’s deputy and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) stopped a vehicle after observing it fail to stop at the intersection of Tabernacle and Bluff Street in St George. The driver, identified as Phillips, reportedly continued driving for several blocks before finally pulling over.
During the stop, a K9 unit alerted to the presence of narcotics in the couple’s vehicle. As the woman stepped out, a Glock 43 handgun fell from her pant leg. Investigators reported the firearm was loaded with a full magazine but had no round in the chamber — a detail the woman later described when telling investigators about the handgun Phillips allegedly used to threaten her.
The victim later reportedly told officers the firearm had originally been in the vehicle’s center console within reach of the driver but that she concealed it after the traffic stop began.
During a search of the vehicle, the victim produced several bags of suspected narcotics, including methamphetamine, cocaine and approximately 50 Adderall pills, according to court documents.
Investigators reported that Phillips made statements claiming ownership of any narcotics the victim was in possession of. The woman later told officers Phillips instructed her to hide both the drugs and the firearm on her person before deputies approached the vehicle.
Both Phillips and the woman were arrested during the traffic stop and booked into the Washington County Jail on drug- and weapon-related charges. Court records do not indicate what role the DEA played in the initial stop.
According to investigators, Phillips later bailed the woman out of jail. However, she reportedly avoided contact with him and was transported home by a federal DEA agent.
Phillips and the woman each face one third-degree felony charge for possession of a dangerous weapon and three Class A misdemeanor charges for possession of a controlled substance in Washington County. However, court documents do not explain why the pair were not charged with felony possession despite the large quantity of Adderall reportedly found during the stop.
Following the disclosure made to investigators, Cedar City police began investigating the allegations.
Officers later located Phillips in the parking lot of a local business in Cedar City, where he was taken into custody. Police reported that Phillips declined to answer questions about the accusations or the victim.
He now also faces several felony charges in Iron County including one first degree felony for aggravated kidnapping and two third-degree felonies for aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon.
The court records show Phillips has a prior conviction for aggravated assault involving domestic violence in 2018 in 5th District Court in St. George. Investigators stated that prior conviction may enhance some of the current charges.
Authorities requested Phillips be held without bail, stating in the affidavit that he allegedly made threats against the victim and her family and may pose a danger to the community if released.
INDIVIDUALS LISTED ON THIS PAGE HAVE BEEN BOOKED INTO IRON COUNTY JAIL AND ARE ACCUSED OF THE FOLLOWING CRIMES BUT ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL AND UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW.
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