GREENE COUNTY
Greene County deputies and Greensboro police officers assisted the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office with a police pursuit on Sept. 23 and helped bring an end to the chase, but the suspect shot himself in the head before he could be taken into custody.
He was taken to Grady Hospital where he remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
According to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies had made a second attempt to serve a warrant for felony aggravated stalking on Cale Michael Phillips, who is in his 30s, at his residence, but Phillips fled in his vehicle, armed with a handgun.
Deputies issued a be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) with a description of Phillips and his vehicle, and within 30 minutes, Phillips was located.
Phillips then crossed into Greene County, and the Greensboro Police Department attempted a traffic stop in the area of South Main Street in Greensboro.
According to the OCSO, Phillips refused to pull over and led the Greensboro Police Department, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, and Oconee County Sheriff’s Office on a chase.
According to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, an attempt was made to get Phillips to stop near the Chevron on Lake Oconee Parkway as he drove through the parking lot onto the Meadowcrest Spur.
Deputies then took charge of the pursuit and continued toward Walker Church Road.
The chase continued down Walker Church and onto Wrightsville Church Road, according to the GCSO.
Deputies attempted to deploy “spike strips” in order to deflate the tires on the vehicle, but Phillips drove around the strips. Phillips continued onto the Richland Connector and traveled back toward Walker Church Road, according to reports.
As Phillips and pursuing units approached the intersection of Richland Connector and Walker Church Road, another attempt to deploy spike strips was made. Phillips was again able to avoid attempts to end the pursuit and continued onto Walker Church Road.
However, deputies from Oconee County were able to get in position in order to use a PIT maneuver and end the pursuit.
Phillips’ vehicle spun and came to rest in the middle of Wrightsville Church Road, according to reports.
Deputies surrounded the vehicle and attempted to get Phillips to exit. Due to the illegal tint on the vehicle’s windows, the officers and deputies were unable to determine whether Phillips would surrender peacefully.
Since Phillips was armed, officers and deputies shattered multiple windows in order to get a clear view of what Phillips might be doing in the vehicle.
Upon making visible contact with Phillips, the officers and deputies discovered Phillips had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.
Officers and deputies administered emergency medical treatment until Greene County EMS arrived and treated Phillips before he was airlifted to Grady Hospital.
According to the OCSO, the pursuit by all agencies was conducted in accordance with approved guidelines, and no other civilians or their vehicles were harmed or damaged during the pursuit.
Officers and deputies involved in the incident are cooperating with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in their required investigation of the incident.