A former Police Officer of the Year has been indicted on criminal charges by a Johnston County Grand Jury.
Tuesday afternoon, a Grand Jury in Smithfield returned a True Bill of Indictment against Owen Phillips for felony possession with intent to manufacture sell and deliver testosterone, a schedule three controlled substance. The alleged offense occurred between April and July 2020, according to the indictment. The investigation into the case was conducted by the NC State Bureau of Investigation.
Phillips, age 40, was hired by the Clayton Police Department in February 2009. He resigned from the police department on August 20, 2020.
Four days later, on August 24, 2020, District Attorney Susan Doyle and Police Chief Blair Myhand requested the NC SBI conduct an investigation that reportedly involved allegations an officer failed or neglected to perform official duties. Officer Phillips was not named as the focus of the investigation at that time.
Reached this afternoon, District Attorney Doyle declined to comment on the indictment.
Click Here To Read The Grand Jury Indictment
Johnston County Report has also learned Phillips was suspended without pay for two days on November 17, 2009 for being involved in two motor vehicle accidents while on patrol and responding to calls for service on Nov. 10, 2009. His take home vehicle privileges on his Clayton patrol car was suspended for six months.
In 2015, Phillips was selected by his peers as the Clayton Police Officer of the Year. In 2017, he was named the Town of Clayton Employee of the Year.
In February 2018, Phillips announced he would be a candidate later that year for the Johnston County Board of Education, however he never formally filed for the school board.
Phillips, a 1998 graduate of Clayton High School, spent five years in the United States Army while stationed in Washington State and Georgia , and received two medals of commendation.
He previously worked at the Smithfield Police Department for three years before he joined the Clayton Police department in 2009.
