A Pearcy man was arrested on a burglary charge Wednesday after he was allegedly recognized in security video inside a residence by a sheriff's deputy after the son of the homeowner called about a possible break-in.
Joseph Ray Phillips, 36, of 105 Fairpark Terrace, was taken into custody at his residence around 3 p.m. and charged with one count of residential burglary, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Phillips was being held on a $5,000 bond and was set to appear Friday in Garland County District Court.
According to court records, he was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in 2008 and sentenced to three years' probation, and has a felony possession of a controlled substance charge pending from his arrest on June 24, 2023, with a hearing set for April 3 in Garland County Circuit Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Garland County sheriff's Sgt. Matthew Cogburn and Deputy J.T. Dodge responded to a residence on Aldridge Road to a possible burglary.
The son and caregiver of the homeowner has reportedly contacted the sheriff's office multiple times recently about people breaking into the residence. Deputies checked and did not find anyone inside.
Deputies spoke to the girlfriend of the complainant who showed them surveillance footage with audio of a white male entering the residence earlier. While inside the male was seen talking to someone on his cellphone and possibly videoing or taking photos of items in the residence.
The person on the other end of the phone call could reportedly be heard "stating something would fit." The male walked through the house briefly before exiting through the front door.
After viewing the footage, Cogburn thought he recognized the male as Phillips "from dealing with him several times in the past." He had the girlfriend email him the footage so he could watch it on the computer in his patrol car where "the image was much clearer" and he reportedly confirmed it was Phillips.
He knew Phillips to live nearby on Fairpark Terrace, so he drove there and spoke with a woman outside who told him Phillips was home and she then had him come outside. As Phillips walked out, Cogburn allegedly noted he was wearing the same clothing as seen in the video, including blue plaid shorts.
He explained to Phillips he was investigating a burglary at the Aldridge Road residence and Phillips reportedly made a spontaneous statement he had gone to the residence because the homeowner gave him permission to three months ago.
The female was still standing outside and reportedly stated the permission had been given longer than three months ago. After checking with a sheriff's investigator about the situation, Cogburn arrested Phillips on the burglary charge.