HYDE PARK, Vt. -
Police almost had him. A Vermont fugitive who's been wanted for more than ten years came close to being caught, just about a week ago.
During a recent high speed chase, officers lost the man they've been searching for, again.
"He's not getting caught," Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux said.
32 year old Shane Phillips of Morristown is well known to police, but they need your help tracking him down. He's been wanted for more than ten years.
"If I had the resources to put a detective or two detectives on that case, I think we'd stand a much better chance, it's a resource issue," Sheriff Marcoux said.
To get to know our man a little better, I started at the Lamoille county courthouse, and dug through the five files filled with gruesome aggravated assault charges. Phillips is accused of punching multiple people repeatedly with brass knuckles, leaving the scene of an accident and burglary. And up until now, hasn't been in trouble.
"Obviously he hasn't been drawing attention to himself in that period of time," Vermont State Police Lieutenant Tom Hango said.
But now, he's back on the radar. Most recently, Phillips is accused of trying to ram a trooper's cruiser during a high speed pursuit in Franklin county. But he got away again.
"Whoever had that contact didn't know who he was or that he was wanted," Lt. Hango said.
The passenger in the car, Raymond Earle was caught, and told police Phillips was the driver. Phillips has been arrested before, but each time, in 2002 and in 2003, was released on conditions and then never showed up to court. He may have left the state all together, but "my gut tells me that he hasn't strayed very far from home," Sheriff Marcoux said.
Shane Phillips could be facing more than 30 years in prison. He's white, about 5'5, 140 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes, and has the word "hate" tattooed on his left-hand fingers.
If you have any information, call police.
