WNED-AM 970 NEWS
(2006-09-08)
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Buffalo News Photo
Phillips, on the run since April when he escaped from the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden is wanted in the shooting death of one state trooper and the wounding of two others.
Phillips surrendered after being cornered in a field just across the state line in Warren County, PA. New York State Police Superintendent Wayne Bennett stood before an army of troopers and law enforcement officials to announce the long and exhausting manhunt was over.
"At 8:00 tonight, Bucky Phillips, as I told you before, could run but couldn't hide and he is in custody," Bennett said.
Bennett says Phillips was spotted by a deputy from the Warren County Sheriff's Department and was quickly surrounded by other law enforcement officials. Bennett says Phillips raised his hands, was ordered to lay on the ground and was taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police.
Phillips was turned over to U.S. Marshals and appeared in Federal court in Buffalo Saturday morning. A judge agreed to turn Phillips over to state police to face attempted murder charges in the June shooting of trooper Sean Brown in Chemung County.
Phillips was exhausted and unshaven as he appeared in court on a federal warrant charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Phillips is also expected to face charges in the shooting of two state troopers in Chautauqua County last week.
Trooper Joseph Longobardo died of his injuries and trooper Donald Baker Jr. remains in critical condition.
Phillips' surrender ended the state's largest manhunt. It came after a frantic day of searching along the New York-Pennsylvania border that started with troopers firing at Phillips, then containing him in a wooded area just over the state line.
After he was taken into custody, residents cheered the troopers and other law enforcement officials.
"You have no idea how that makes us feel. That's just the nicest tribute you can ever get," Bennett said.
Governor Pataki praised the effort of all the law enforcement agencies involved in capturing Phillips.
"They have worked tirelessly to bring this dangerous fugitive to justice," Pataki said.
You can listen to a portion of the news conference with Superintendent Wayne Bennett by clicking the LISTEN icon, or downloading the MP3 file. © Copyright 2010, wned
