The Zion Times

By: Sachet A. Carter (Sullivan) | The Zion Times
New details and charges have emerged in the case of a Cedar City man accused of kidnapping earlier this week. He now faces additional felony firearm charges following a multi-agency investigation involving the Iron/Garfield/Beaver Narcotics Task Force.

Rylan Matthew Phillips, 26, was taken into custody March 4 by Cedar City Police after investigators interviewed a woman who reported she had been held against her will inside an apartment at the Stratford Court Apartments in Cedar City from Feb. 23 through Feb. 27.

In a new development, Phillips now faces two additional firearm charges after the Iron/Garfield/Beaver Narcotics Task Force executed search warrants at locations connected to him, including a trailer he had been staying in and his father’s business.

While coordinating the investigation, a DEA agent informed task force officers that Phillips was believed to possess additional firearms, including an AR-style rifle that investigators later learned had allegedly been purchased by the female victim.

According to the affidavit, the victim later told investigators the firearms could be located inside a green cargo-style trailer parked at Phillips’ father’s business or inside trailers located on his father’s property in Enoch.

After interviewing the victim, investigators first responded to the Enoch property, where multiple camp trailers were located behind a locked metal fence. According to the affidavit, the trailers were not searched at this time as officers were trying to verify the information given by the victim.

While still in the Enoch area, task force agents were contacted by Cedar City Police, who asked whether a laptop had been located during the earlier search of the apartment, indicating it could play a key role in the kidnapping investigation. The task force officer advised the officer that an Apple Mac laptop had been seen during the search but was left behind because it was still in its original box.

Task force agents then left the Enoch property and traveled to Phillips’ father’s business in Cedar City, where they located a green cargo-style trailer behind the building matching the victim’s earlier description.

After confirming the location of the trailer as well as the property in Enoch, investigators then returned to Phillip’s apartment where they executed a follow up warrant to obtain the computer.

While securing the apartment complex following the search, investigators were notified by Phillip’s property manager that he had just called and requested a spare key to access his apartment.

Task force officers and Cedar City Police then coordinated a plan to take Phillips into custody once he arrived at the property.

According to the affidavit, Phillips briefly arrived at the apartment complex before quickly leaving the area. Task force agents then notified Cedar City Police officers and requested a traffic stop on his vehicle which ultimately led to his arrest. 

Shortly after taking Phillips into custody, his father arrived on scene where investigators informed him of the missing firearms. The agents then asked the father for consent to search his property to find the weapons.

Initially, Phillips’ father declined consent and told investigators he would search the trailers himself and contact law enforcement if the firearms were located. A short time later, he contacted agents and stated he had thought about it more and decided to grant the agents consent to search the property.

According to the court records, while searching the property, Phillips’ father told officers that his son had been staying in a camper behind his business after being kicked out of a trailer park in Leeds.

Phillip’s father also informed agents that while he was cleaning the camper after Phillips moved out, he reportedly discovered a wooden .22 caliber rifle and a locked black gun case inside the trailer.

Investigators were provided with a key taken from Phillips’ car keys that opened the gun case. Inside, officers located an AR-style rifle with two loaded magazines, one empty magazine, a sling and an optic.

Investigators then conducted a follow-up phone interview with the victim, who had previously purchased the rifle for Phillips. During the call, she described the AR-style rifle and the optics mounted on it, which officers said matched the firearm they had recovered.

According to the court documents, Phillips is considered a Category 1 restricted person due to a prior violent felony conviction, making it illegal for him to possess firearms.

The weapons were seized and booked into evidence, leading to the additional felony firearm charges filed this week.

It remains unclear why Phillips was not charged in Iron County for the “distributable” amounts of controlled substances investigators reported locating inside his apartment. However, the affidavit indicates additional charges may still be filed by the Utah State Bureau of Investigation as the investigation continues.

Phillips remains in custody at the Iron County Correctional Facility on the kidnapping case and additional charges connected to the investigation.

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.

SEE PREVIOUS STORY ON THIS INCIDENT:

CCPD ARRESTS MAN ON KIDNAPPING CHARGES AFTER WASHINGTON COUNTY TRAFFIC STOP