Late-morning traffic at one of the east side's busier crossroads turned tense on June 23 when Indianapolis officers found a driver slumped over behind the wheel of an SUV that was still in drive, leading to a full SWAT response. Police say the vehicle, a blue 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, was stopped in the roadway at East 10th Street and North Emerson Avenue with a 43-year-old man unconscious in the driver's seat. The man, identified in reporting as Troy Anthony Phillips, was treated at Eskenazi Hospital for a suspected medical emergency before being booked into the Marion County Adult Detention Center.
According to police, officers got to the scene just before 11 a.m. after callers reported a driver passed out with a shotgun next to him. Patrol units boxed in the SUV so it would not roll into the intersection, then tried for about 20 minutes to wake Phillips over a public address system. When that failed, SWAT moved in to safely approach the vehicle and take him into custody, as reported by WKRC.
What officers recovered
During their searches, investigators say they recovered a loaded, unregistered Starr Firearms semi-automatic 12-gauge shotgun from inside the SUV and seized about 10.58 grams of fentanyl. Officers also reported finding roughly 2.5 grams of cocaine and about 3 grams of marijuana in Phillips’ pocket, along with additional fentanyl hidden in a piece of foil after he was taken to the hospital. These inventories were detailed in reporting by FOX59.
Charges and past record
Police say Phillips was charged with possession of a narcotic drug with a prior conviction, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, possession of cocaine with a prior conviction, and possession of marijuana. Court records cited in reporting show he has previous Indiana convictions for narcotics possession, dealing in narcotics, theft, intimidation, and unlawful firearm possession, and that he was adjudicated a habitual offender in 2009. He was initially held without bond, and reports indicated it was unclear whether bail had been set after his first hearing, per WKRC. Marion County booking records can be searched using the county's inmate lookup tool at Find a Person in Jail.
What happens next
The case now moves through Marion County courts as prosecutors review the charges and evidence, with public filings set to show whether any additional counts are added. Police said the tactical response, which included using a flash-bang to rouse the driver and a ballistic shield to secure the shotgun, highlights how seriously officers take calls that combine a possible overdose with a weapon within arm's reach, as reported by FOX59.
