Roseville Arrest Nets Hallucinogenic Mushrooms and more

Roseville, Calif.- A Penryn man was arrested in Roseville after selling hallucinogenic mushrooms to an under-aged decoy who was working an alcohol operation with the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect was in possession of a large amount of psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana, plus scales and more than $1,500 in cash.

Noah James Phippen, 19, was asked by a 20-year-old, who was part of a state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control “shoulder tap” operation, if he’d buy him a six-pack of beer. Phippen said he wasn’t old enough to buy alcohol either, but offered to sell the decoy some “California gold cap mushrooms.” The decoy agreed and purchased a small amount with his beer money. The incident occurred in the 1100 block of Douglas Blvd.

Throughout the drug transaction, deputies from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office were nearby in unmarked vehicles and on foot. The decoy was wearing a wire and the conversation was monitored.

Phippen was confronted a short distance away by deputies and he denied selling any drugs. But a search of his vehicle revealed the large supply of drugs and cash. Phippen was booked at the Placer County Jail on charges of possession and sales of psilocybin; possession of cocaine for sale and transportation of cocaine; and possession of methamphetamine. Phippen remains in custody with bail set at $200,000.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office runs “shoulder taps” and other operations as part of a grant from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to battle under-age drinking and reduce access to alcohol for those under the age of 21.