Motive investigated in shooting death of sergeant

Thursday, August 16, 2007

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Authorities at the Brandon home where the suspect was shot to death. (Slideshow)

BRANDON (Bay News 9) -- More details continue to emerge about the shooting death of a Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputy.

According to authorities, Sgt. Ron Harrison was shot twice with a .45-caliber weapon at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday shortly after conducting a DUI checkpoint in Brandon.

Officials said the man suspected in the shooting, 24-year-old Michael Allen Phillips, was shot and killed a short time later by SWAT team members after he barricaded himself in his mother's Brandon home.

The shooting happened on Lumsden Road near Kings Avenue as the 55-year-old Harrison was wrapping up a DUI checkpoint. Officials said a driver in the area reported hearing shots at about the same time.

Deadly Shooting

Authorities said Harrison was in his cruiser when he was shot and activated his lights and siren and tried to drive off. However, he lost control of his cruiser, struck another vehicle and then crashed into a tree. Officials said Harrison died before reaching Brandon Hospital and that he never radioed for help.

Investigators are trying to determine if Harrison was ambushed or if the suspect was in the car with him at the time of the shooting.

"[Phillips] potentially could have been on foot but we most likely believe that he was in the pickup truck that was in front of the residence this morning," said Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee.

A short time later, Rosa Bradley of Riverview called authorities, saying her boyfriend may have shot a deputy three times and was at a home on Village Court.

"During that conversation, she told us that she had spoken with Phillips, her boyfriend, and that he had advised her at that time that he was going to kill her, her parents, and that he had already shot 'a cop,' " said during a Wednesday afternoon press conference.

A SWAT team then converged on that home and negotiations began with the suspect.

Gee said Phillips' mother and a small child exited the home before Phillips barricaded himself inside. Gee said numerous attempts to get him out failed.

"We did have a brief conversation with him," said Gee. "He made some statements. He referred to a term '8814.' Which he explained to a person on our end of the line that the 88 stands for 'Heil Hitler.' And that the 14 was the number of words in an Aryan nation term."

"Yesterday was 8/14, as one of our negotiators pointed out."

Sheriff's deputies search the shooting location for evidence Wednesday morning.

"Our communication with him was that he was not going to be cooperative."

Gee said Phillips fired more than 10 shots at SWAT team members with a large-caliber weapon, prompting two snipers to kill him at about 3:45 a.m. Those deputies are on paid administrative leave, as the shooting is investigated.

"I authorized deadly force be used," Gee said. "He was shot and killed by SWAT officers at the scene."

Gee said none of the SWAT team members were injured.

Remembering Harrison

Harrison was a fixture on the agency's DUI task force team, overseeing a group of 12 deputies and one corporal.

"Ron was a huge advocate for safety," said anti-DUI activist Linda Unfried, who was at the checkpoint with Harrison. "It's really hard for all of us. It's going to be a tremendous loss."

Sgt. Ron Harrison, seen in a 2005 Bay News 9 file photo, was a 20-year-plus veteran of the sheriff's office.

Harrison is the first Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputy killed since 1981. Friday would have marked 21 years on the job for Harrison. He had 32 years overall in law enforcement.

"I stand with our law enforcement officers today as we mourn the loss of another dedicated public servant, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputy Ron Harrison,'' said Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum. "Deputy Harrison will be sincerely missed by his family, friends, colleagues and community."

Gee was emotional when describing Harrison.

"He was a good guy, a good officer with a lot of years," said Gee.

Harrison had four children and three grandchildren. He was the third deputy to be shot in Florida in the past 10 days and the second to die.

Thirty-nine law enforcement officers were fatally shot in the U.S. from January through July of this year, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Harrison's name was etched into the memorial at the front of the sheriff's office Wednesday night.

Dozens of Harrison's fellow law enforcement officers and deputies attended the memorial ceremony, many wiping away tears.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist issued this statement about Harrison's death:

"My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Sgt. Ron Harrison and his fellow deputies. Sgt. Harrison selflessly served his community with valor and will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to improving public safety. I join all Floridians in offering our sincere condolences to Sgt. Harrison's family, friends and fellow law enforcement officers."

Phillips' criminal past

Phillips was arrested once in 2003, once in 2005, five times in 2006, and once in 2007.

Phillips allegedly had interest in the Aryan Nation.

Three of the 2006 arrests were on battery charges. Reports say in one of those cases, Phillips cut open the victim's back with a rake.

Phillips was scheduled to go to trial next month on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing from deputies and driving recklessly with a suspended license.

"He has a history of violent behavior," Gee said of Phillips. "He has an extensive criminal history going back to his juvenile years. Obstructing type of charges. Very defiant to law enforcement."

"He recently was involved in a fleeing and eluding case where he refused to exit his car, and as a deputy was asking him to exit his car, he threw it in gear and took off at a high speed. Pursuit was ordered. So he clearly has a history of this type of behavior."

Gee said a motive for the shooting is being investigated.