HORSEHEADS, N.Y. -ðFugitive Ralph “Bucky” Phillips was still at
large Friday night.
Horseheads-based state police trooper Mark O’Donnell said Friday
night Phillips was still being sought with every resource possible.
Reports indicate the Phillips case be on an upcoming edition of the
America’s Most Wanted television program.
Reports also indicate New York state police officers searched a
cabin near Arkwright in Chautauqua County late Thursday night or
early Friday morning on a tip Phillips was there, but did not
locate the fugitive.
Phillips escaped from an Alden correctional facility early in
April, and was seen in Limestone and Bradford, Pa., in the weeks
following. Since then, however, police announced Phillips is being
sought for questioning relative to the shooting of a New York state
trooper on June 10 near Elmira.
At about 1 a.m., a state police cruiser pulled up behind a green
Ford Mustang as it was traveling on Parrott Road in the Town of
Veteran, Chemung County. The car immediately pulled over to the
side of the road, and the troopers pulled over to see if the
occupants needed assistance. They were not executing a stop,
according to O’Donnell, 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 vehicle. Brown was hit in
the abdomen; Will was not shot. Police believe Phillips was both
the driver and the shooter.
A $25,000 dollar reward is now being offered for information
leading to Phillips’ arrest. O’Donnell said $10,000 was donated by
the Cop Shot program based in New York City, another $10,000 was
given by the New York State Police PDA union and the final $5,000
from is courtesy of the law firm that represents the union.
Police are still looking for Phillips in the woods near
Binghamton, O’Donnell said. Helicopters, land units, K-9 units and
a SWAT team have all been utilized during the search. Phillips is
believed to be on foot after stealing a string several vehicles,
including the Mustang, and firearms.
He is described as 6-feet tall, 235 pounds with long black hair
worn in a ponytail. He is Native American, and at times has a beard
and mustache, although police have lately been using photographs of
Phillips clean shaven.
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 adult 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. He is considered to be armed and dangerous, police said, some
reports indicating Phillips has even threatened “suicide by
cop.”
