Fugitive Ralph “Bucky” Phillips, who escaped from a New York
state prison in April and was reportedly seen in the Bradford area
in the weeks thereafter – is now being sought for questioning
related to the shooting of a New York State trooper on Saturday in
Chemung County, N.Y.

Phillips, 43, escaped from an Erie County correctional facility
in Alden April 4 using a can opener to pry open a kitchen ceiling,
reports indicate. Since then, he has been on the run, allegedly
burglarizing homes and stealing a number of vehicles and weapons.
He has been described by police as “armed and dangerous.”

A camp owner in Great Valley, N.Y., reported to the authorities
that Phillips stopped at his camp on Hungary Hollow Road in the
days after his escape, and asked for directions to Limestone, N.Y.
During the conversation, Phillips allegedly gave the camp owner a
handgun.

In mid-April, officials confirmed Phillips had been spotted in
the Bradford area. Reports at that time indicated someone matching
his description was even seen in a Bradford hotel. Subsequent
reports, however, indicated Phillips had fled back into New York
and then into Ohio.

A release issued by the New York state police Saturday, however,
said Phillips is now wanted for questioning in connection with the
shooting of a state trooper early Saturday morning in the Town of
Veteran, N.Y.

According to Trooper Mark O’Donnell of the Horseheads
(N.Y.)-based state police, at about 1 a.m., a state police cruiser
pulled up behind a green Ford Mustang as it was traveling on
Parrott Road in Chemung County. The car immediately pulled over to
the side of the road, O’Donnell said, and the troopers pulled over
to see if the occupant(s) needed assistance. They were not
executing a stop, he said, and had not turned on their lights or
siren.

Troopers Sean Brown of the Montour Falls station and Donald Will
of the Dundee barracks approached the car, at which point several
shots were fired at them from inside the car. Brown was hit in the
abdomen; Will was not shot.

Brown was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Elmira, where he was
listed in fair condition Saturday night. A patient information
representative at the hospital said Sunday afternoon, however,
there was no one by that name (Sean Brown) at the hospital.

The green Mustang driven by the shooter was located several
hours after the incident off Wygant Road in Horseheads, reports
indicate, less than 10 miles away from the scene of the shooting.
Almost immediately after, a nearby resident reported his truck
stolen from outside his house.

Police think Phillips may be traveling in the stolen pick-up
truck, which is described as a white and blue Chevrolet with a
diamond tread toolbox in the bed. The side and rear windows are
tinted and the paint on the hood is chipped. It could still have
CYL5410 New York license plates.

O’Donnell told The Era police made the connection between
Phillips and Saturday’s shooting based on information they received
indicating Phillips was in that area at that time.

The stolen truck police believe is now driven by Phillips was
spotted in Binghamton, N.Y., as recently as midnight on Sunday.
O’Donnell said the search is now concentrated in the Binghamton
area, where Phillips “may have contacts.”

O’Donnell said that while police initially were seeking several
people of interest related to the shooting, they are now focusing
their search and investigation primarily on Phillips.

“He’s (Phillips is) our number one guy right now,” he said,
adding police believe Phillips was both the driver of the Mustang
and the shooter. It is unclear if there was anyone else in the car
at the time of the shooting, O’Donnell added.

Phillips is described as standing 6-feet tall and weighing 235
pounds, with long black hair worn in a ponytail. He is Native
American, and at times has a beard and mustache.

An individual identified by a New York reporter as Phillips’
“friend” told that newspaper late in May that Phillips escaped from
prison to spend time with his daughter, whom he recently reconciled
with after a 15-year estrangement. The same individual told police
it is likely Phillips will die before going back to jail.