Staff Report

Michael Jason Philpot

Summer Nichole White

WARSAW — Two people were arrested after a theft report at Walmart resulted in the discovery of drugs.

Summer Nichole White, 33, 730 Carlton St., Mishawaka, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a syringe, both level 6 felonies; possession of a controlled substance and theft, both class A misdemeanors; false informing, a class B misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

Michael Jason Philpot, 45, 4503 French St., Tyner, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a syringe, both level 6 felonies; possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

On Aug. 6, a Warsaw Police officer went to Walmart regarding a report of a woman stealing items. Upon arrival, the officer met with a store employee about the theft.

According to court documents, the employee said a woman had been placing universal product codes (UPCs) for cheaper items on more expensive items.

The officer spoke with the woman, who initially provided a false name due to an active arrest warrant. She was later identified as White.

White admitted to placing UPCs for other products onto more expensive products. She also admitted to not paying for certain merchandise.

During the investigation, officers noticed White had needle injection marks on her arms. White also had money on her person that would have covered the cost of items she stole, indicating to police that she may have been saving the money to purchase illegal drugs.

White directed officers to the vehicle she arrived in. Philpot was sitting in the vehicle’s passenger seat. He told officers he had an active arrest warrant out of Michigan and was taken into custody.

While searching the vehicle, officers found a plastic container that had 18.8 grams of synthetic marijuana in it. Officers also found a black lock box containing syringes, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and two pills of Alprazolam, a schedule IV controlled substance.

Both White and Philpot denied knowledge of the illegal items. However, later in the investigation, officers found a key on White’s person that looked like it could fit into the black lock box.

At the time of this incident, White was on probation out of St. Joseph County for narcotic drug possession. She was also on bond in a LaPorte County case for theft and has pending charges in Lake County for syringe possession.

White and Philpot both have status conferences for this case at 10 a.m. Oct. 4, in Kosciusko Circuit Court.