Ralph__Bucky__Phillips

Ralph “Bucky” Phillips Cindy Jamieson Grantham University Abstract Ralph “Bucky” Phillips, a criminal that escaped from prison, was on the run for five months, killed a state trooper, and yet somehow still became popular in his native hometown. This paper will outline the timeline of the five months that Phillips was on the run from the Pennsylvania and Ohio State Police as well as all the crimes he committed in multiple jurisdictions. RALPH “BUCKY” PHILLIPS Background Before Phillips was apprehended by the Pennsylvania State Police in September 2006, he had had a pretty expansive history in the New York State correctional system. Prior to his April 2006 escape from the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden, NY, he had previously been convicted on three counts of burglary, two counts of grand larceny, and other various crimes. After his burglary conviction and serving 13 years in prison, Phillips was released on parole in November 2005. When he failed to report to his parole officer, it led to his arrest on January 6, 2006. It was reported, widely, that Phillips only had four days left until he would have been released before his escape, but this was untrue. He actually had about three months to serve before he would have been paroled. Fugitive Timeline Phillips escaped on April 2, 2006 from the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden, New York in Erie County near Buffalo, New York by cutting through the kitchen ceiling with a can opener. From the date of his escape through June, the police suspect Phillips was related to several break-ins at hunting camps in Erie, Allegany, and Cattaraugus counties. A truck was stolen in Allegany County and winds up in Ohio where another vehicle was stolen. Phillips was spotted by residents in the areas around several boroughs and towns in Pennsylvania. June 10, 2006, two New York State Troopers pulled over a mustang that matched the description of a vehicle that was stolen earlier that day in Chautaugua County, NY. The driver had pulled over before the troopers even turned on their siren lights. As the police approached RALPH “BUCKY” PHILLIPS the car, the troopers recognized his as Phillips who then pulled out a gun and fired one of the troopers in the stomach, which he did survive after surgery. On June 20, 2006 a Dodge Caravan was stolen in the town of Hancock, NY and turned up four days later in the town of Sheridan. It seems some people are behind Phillips and possibly helping elude the police from finding him. The manhunt is focused in Phillips’ native Chautaugua County, NY as “Bucky Burgers” and t-shirts saying “Where’s Bucky” or “Got Bucky” are offered for sale. A firearm was found in early July that was linked to the shooting of Trooper Brown on June 10th. As the manhunt continues, Phillips is spotted August 19, 2006 in Cassadaga, NY. Three residents were arrested for helping him. A week later, Phillip’s girlfriend, Kasey Crowe’s children were removed from her custody as her and Phillip’s daughter was accused of harboring him. On August 28, 2006, state police called Phillips a suspect in the theft of several weapons from a Chautauqua County gun shop. Meanwhile, two days later Pennsylvania State Police find approximately 40 stolen guns at a residence in Ludlow, PA. On August 31, 2006 two state troopers were shot sniper-style and critically wounded outside the home of Kasey Crowe while Todd Nelson of Ludlow, PA was accused of harboring Phillips for 11 days. On September 3, 2006 Trooper Joseph Longobardo dies at the Erie County Medical Center. On September 8, 2006 a stolen car is pulled over early in the morning near the Pennsylvania/New York line and a man believed to be Phillips runs into the woods. As many as three cars are stolen as the chase for Phillips leads the police in the woods of Pennsylvania. RALPH “BUCKY” PHILLIPS Shots are fired near a golf course in Warren County, Russel, PA and Phillips finally surrenders to the Pennsylvania State Police on the evening of September 8. The U.S. Marshalls name Phillips to their “15 Most Wanted” list and the next day the FBI named Phillips to their “10 Most Wanted Fugitives” list. Charges Phillips was charged with eight counts, including attempted aggravated murder, first-degree attempted murder and second-degree attempted murder in Chemung County, NY in connection with the shooting of a state trooper on June 10 that intensified the five month manhunt. There wasn’t enough evidence to charge him with the shootings that happened on August 31st. Phillips plead guilty in Chemung County Court to attempted murder regarding the June shooting of Trooper Brown and then he also pleaded guilty in Chautauqua County Court to the murder and attempted murder of Troopers Longobardo and Baker, respectively. Conclusion Ralph James “Bucky” Phillips was sentenced to life imprisonment in Chautauqua County Court for the murder and attempted murder of Troopers Longobardo and Baker, respectively, and also sentenced to 25 years to life in Erie County Court on the escape charges. REFERENCES http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_%22Bucky%22_Philips http://www.policeone.com/pc_print.asp'vid=757909 http://www.foxnews.com/print_friendly_story/0,3566,213229,00.html http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm'id=39219 http://www.usmarshals.gov/news/chron/15/phillips-cap.htm