Oneida-based state police charged a Canastota woman with felony driving while ability impaired by drugs after she was reported driving impaired with children in her vehicle.
On Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, at approximately 2:15 p.m., Madison County 911 dispatched troopers to 3059 Seneca Turnpike in Lenox after receiving a report of a woman who appeared to be impaired by drugs attempting to drive away from the location with two children in her vehicle.
Upon arrival, Trooper Stacy Ferris interviewed several witnesses and learned that Amber L. Phillips, 26 of Canastota, had driven to that location with two children, ages 3 and 1, in her 1998 Dodge Ram pickup truck, and it appeared to them that her ability to drive was impaired by her use of drugs.
The witnesses stated they had prevented Phillips from driving away due to her obvious impairment. An interview with Phillips revealed she was likely under the influence of crack cocaine and sobriety tests showed she was severely impaired. A quantity of marijuana was also located in her vehicle.
Philips was taken into custody and transported to the Oneida state police barracks, where she was evaluated by a drug recognition expert; she was charged with DWAI-drugs, two counts of felony aggravated DWAI-drugs with a child in the vehicle (Leandra’s Law), two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful possession of marijuana.
Phillips was arraigned in Lenox Town Court and remanded to Madison County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond and is to reappear in Lenox court at a later date.