Harassment complaint filed against VP deputy marshal

By: ELIZABETH WEST
Managing Editor

Two days after Ville Platte Deputy Marshal Arthur Phillips was arrested for soliciting prostitution, a complaint was filed against the 50-year-old for “phone harassment.”
According to a Ville Platte incident report, the complaint was filed by a Arthur Sampson, who stated that “around 5:49 a.m. this morning he received a phone call from a number that he didn’t know.”
After not answering the first call, Sampson told police that “a few minutes later the number called back.”
According to what Sampson told police, when he answered the second call, the person on the other line told him “I don’t appreciate you talking about me on Facebook.”
When he asked the person who they were, Sampson stated that the other indivudual responed, “Arthur Phillips.”
According to Sampson, Phillips then told him, “You need to watch yourself because you been talking about me on Facebook and I am going to get you back.”
Since the incident, Sampson says his main concern is making sure that Phillips is arrested for the allegations that have been made.
Sampson said, “He needs to be arrested. If I would have called someone and said what Arthur Phillips said they would have already had me behind bars.”
Phillips was arrested earlier this week after he was accused of picking up 29-year-old Maria R. Joseph of Ville Platte, having sex with her, and then taking her to Fenton, La. where she perfomred sex acts with other people for money.
Phillips was arrested by the Jeff. Davis Sheriff’s Office on charges of soliciting prostitution. His bond was set at $10,000.00.
Following his Wednesday arrest, Ville Platte City Marshal Ronald T. Doucet suspended Phillips from the mashal’s office.