Two sheriff’s deputies were shot Saturday during a vehicle pursuit near the Florida-Georgia line, leaving one deputy in critical condition and fighting for his life.
Two sheriff’s deputies were shot Saturday during a vehicle pursuit near the Florida-Georgia line, leaving one deputy in critical condition and fighting for his life. The shooting led to an overnight manhunt as the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office sought to capture suspect Troy Arthur Phillips (40), who they considered to be armed and dangerous.
Authorities arrested suspects Troy Arthur Phillips, along with his brother Brad Philips (41), after Sunday’s lengthy manhunt.
According to Decatur County Sheriff Griffin, the manhunt began after a Seminole County deputy attempted to pull over the two suspects after they were caught driving at an excess speed of 81 miles per hour. As the deputy attempted to pull over the vehicle, the suspects shot him with what was believed to be a .30 caliber rifle.
From there, the two suspects drove onto the driveway of a Decatur County home and attempted to break-in by shooting through the door. The suspects fled after the homeowner returned fire, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.
A second Seminole County deputy ended up joining the dangerous pursuit to assist the injured deputy where the suspects began firing at his vehicle which ultimately led to the deputy returning fire in self-defense, WTXL reported. The two suspects fled the scene and ultimately crashed their vehicle near a wooded area, leading to the arrest of Brad Phillips.
The manhunt for the second suspect, Troy Phillips, ended Sunday after the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office announced they had apprehended the suspect. According to the Decatur County Deputy Sheriff, Troy Phillips was found crouching down in the woods by two officers from different agencies less than a mile from the original scene of the shooting.
Over 20 law enforcement agencies assisted with the twelve hour manhunt, including the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit.
The critically injured Sheriff’s Deputy has been identified as Lt. Justin Bedwell who still remains in critical condition after undergoing surgery at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. The other injured deputy faced non-life threatening injuries and was treated and released from the hospital.
Brad Phillips has been charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer, according to DCSO. Charges against Troy Phillips have not yet been announced.
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