Man allegedly provided name of deceased person before fleeing traffic stop
BOOKING PHOTO: Kings County Sheriff
A man was arrested in Lemoore late last month after allegedly providing a false identity and fleeing a traffic stop, leading Kings County deputies on a pursuit.
Early in the morning on December 28, 2019, officers stopped a man in the area of 17th Avenue and Davis Circle for expired registration. Initially, the driver provided the name Brian Phillips — which turned out to be the name of a deceased person. He was later identified as 54-year-old Eric Phillips.
As the deputy who stopped him ran a records check, Phillips allegedly sped away, kicking off a pursuit that reached speeds of over 100 MPH. He reportedly failed to stop at multiple stop signs and occasionally crossed into oncoming traffic.
The pursuit continued to the 19th Avenue and Highway 198 area and then, as he drove toward the eastbound ramp of Highway 198, Phillips struck the concrete center median and lost control of the car. When he regained control, he drove westbound off the eastbound ramp, then lost control a second time and ended up in the grass center median.
From there, he tried to flee on foot. Deputies chased him for about 80 yards until he made the sudden decision to surrender.
According to a press release by the Sheriff’s Department, Phillips said during his arrest, “I don’t know why I did that. I knew you guys were going to catch me.”
He is now housed at the Kings County Jail on multiple felony charges.
