The Clearwater Police Chief said an officer who got into a violent fight with a transient man on Tuesday showed restraint by choosing not to use deadly force to defend himself.

  • Clearwater police officer had altercation with transient man this week
  • Officer Stewart Phillips was injured
  • Police Chief Dan Slaughter said Phillips showed restraint by not using deadly force

“I think that really shows the presence of mind of our preservation of life philosophy,” said Chief Dan Slaughter.    

Clearwater Police released photos to Bay News 9 of 47-year-old officer Stewart Phillips’ injures. Deep tissue bruising can be seen on his back along with a large cut on his head that required four staples to close.  

“He’s very sore," Chief Slaughter said. "And in pain.” 

The incident happened 300 yards west of the 22500 block of US Highway 19 N at 10:10 a.m. on Tuesday. Officer Phillips was on foot conducting a directed patrol on the CSX railroad tracks due to recent concerns regarding transient encampments, according to police. 

That’s when Phillips said he came across Homer Johnson, 41, a transient man who had been previously warned not to camp in the area.

“They’ve had contact with this particular subject actually on multiple occasions,” Slaughter said. “He’s been warned multiple times not to have an encampment back there.”

Johnson refused to leave and threw a rock at the officer that missed him, according to an arrest affidavit. Phillips attempted to deploy his Taser but it was unsuccessful. That’s when a struggle ensued, the officer used his baton which Johnson was briefly able to gain control of before Phillips wrestled it back. 

Chief Slaughter said he was listening to radio traffic of the violent three minute fight in real time.

"It was gut wrenching," he said. “You could definitely tell he was in need of help and you could tell that he even sounded a little dazed on the radio.” 

Johnson again armed himself with a rock and threw it about ten feet striking Phillips in the head causing a deep cut, according to the report.That's when a backup officer arrived, deployed a taser and took Johnson into custody.

The transient man made a first appearance in court on charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and depriving an officer a means of protection. A judge kept his bond at $55,000.

Johnson said he believed the lodging out-of-doors ordinance is unfair and that officer Phillips should have left him alone, according to an arrest affidavit. He also confessed to throwing the rock but said he did so in self-defense.

Officer Phillips has been a law enforcement officer since 2001 and joined CPD in 2006. Phillips is expected to return to work in a couple of days and will be on light duty until his head injury heals.