The Bradford City Police, among other local agencies, assisted
in the search for an armed escaped correctional facility inmate
Friday night.

Police agencies were contacted by the Cattaraugus (N.Y.) County
Sheriff’s department shortly after 9 p.m. to be on the lookout for
a black Suzuki motorcycle believed to be traveling south on U.S.
Route 219, reports indicate.

The motorcycle driven by escaped inmate Ralph Phillips, 43, was
reportedly seen leaving Great Valley, N.Y., at about 9 p.m.

Phillips is described as a 6-foot tall, 235-pound Native
American with long black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen
dressed in camouflage and wearing a backpack, and was reportedly in
possession of a .38-caliber firearm at the time of his escape.

Cattaraugus County Sheriff Dennis B. John reported Friday
Phillips, who escaped from the Erie County Correctional Facility at
Alden on April 4, was seen at about 9 p.m. at an isolated camp on
Hungry Hollow Road in the town of Great Valley. Phillips had a
brief conversation with the owner of the camp and was last seen
traveling on a motorcycle believed to be headed to the Bradford
area, John said in a release from his department.

A listing on the Erie County (N.Y.) Sheriff’s Web site for “most
wanted” fugitives says Phillips is considered “armed and
dangerous.”

The New York registration on the motorcycle driven by Phillips
was 26EE67, reports indicate.

There was no further information Friday night at press time.