A rural Bloomfield man, accused of having a loaded handgun in his back pocket, was arrested and booked into jail this morning by a sheriff’s deputy after the White River Valley school resource officer noticed a suspicious vehicle on school property. The Greene County Prosecutor filed criminal charges late Friday afternoon.

Phillip C. Lash, 32, Bloomfield, was arrested by Deputy Harvey Holt of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department earlier today, Friday, October 23.

When Lash was booked in, Lash was said to be from Switz City. Court records show him with a home address on West State Road 54, Bloomfield.

Early Friday morning, a suspicious vehicle on school property was discovered by White River Valley School Resource Officer Ron Sparks who alerted the sheriff’s department saying he was with a pickup truck that was parked in the east parking lot of White River Valley High School on State Road 54 in Switz City. SRO Sparks said the driver might be impaired.

Deputy Holt was dispatched at 8:22 a.m. When he arrived on the scene, SRO Sparks explained the driver of the pickup truck was drowsy and appeared to be intoxicated. SRO Sparks also said he had asked the driver if he had any weapons in the vehicle and the driver said no.

Phillip Charles Lash was identified as the driver. Deputy Holt asked him to step out of the vehicle so the deputy could determine his suitability to drive. Deputy Holt reported Lash delayed the exit then slowly got out.

During a pat-down, when Lash turned around, Deputy Holt saw the grip of a handgun in Lash’s back pocket. Deputy Holt took the handgun and secured it. SRO Sparks placed Lash in handcuffs.

Lash agreed to speak to Deputy Holt and told him he had applied for a license but didn’t have one yet. Deputy Holt verified Lash had applied for a lifetime permit but one had not been issued. Deputy Holt noted that Lash was on WRV school property during this incident and Lash had no reason that would exempt him from the requirement to possess a valid handgun license.

Deputy Holt reported Lash’s handgun was loaded and ready to fire. It was a .40 caliber Rock Island semi-automatic handgun loaded with seven rounds.

Lash was placed under arrest and transported to the Greene County Jail.

During the booking process, jail staff allegedly found marijuana in Lash’s pocket.

Bond was first set at $11,500 surety with ten percent cash allowed but after charges were filed, his bond was adjusted to $10,500 surety with ten percent cash allowed. As of late Friday afternoon, he had not yet posted bond and was still in jail.

Late Friday afternoon, Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw filed a criminal case against Lash in Greene Circuit Court.

A date for Lash’s initial hearing is not yet known but when he appears, he will be formally charged with:

• Carrying a handgun without a license on or within 500 feet of school property, a Level 5 felony, and

• Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor.