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Chance encounter with chief ends run
By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer INVERNESS -- For more than two months, former Inverness police Officer Kevin Phillips has been on the lam. He has dodged law enforcement officers from three jurisdictions who searched from Citrus to Fort Myers for the wayward ex-officer, now charged with organized fraud, burglary and failure to pay child support. But in a bizarre twist of fate, Phillips' luck ran out Monday in an old-fashioned general store in Kissimmee when he came face to face with Inverness police Chief Lee Alexander. "It really was one of those strange things that makes you think there must have been a higher power guiding your movements," Alexander said. It was a craving for crab legs and lobster that drew Alexander and his family to Kissimmee on Memorial Day afternoon. Together with Inverness Officer Matthew Ambrose and his wife, the group -- four adults and six children -- drove to Angel's Diner in Orlando to indulge in its well-stocked seafood buffet. After everyone was stuffed with shellfish, Alexander's wife, Dawn, suggested a walk around Old Town, a Kissimmee theme park filled with rides, shops and restaurants. "We almost didn't go, but my wife wanted to look in the candle shop," Alexander said. After a leisurely stroll, they were ready to head for home by 8:30 p.m. Dawn Alexander recommended they buy soft drinks for the journey at the Little General Store, where bottles of Pepsi still sell for a quarter. Alexander waited outside the store with the children while his wife and Ambrose waited in line to pay for the sodas. By chance, Alexander happened to turn around and saw a familiar face: It was Phillips. And he was walking into the general store. Phillips worked for the Inverness department from August 2000 until June 2001. He gained notoriety for on-the-job accidents, including a May 16 incident where he ran over himself with his own patrol car, injuring his abdomen. A warrant was issued for his arrest in Citrus County on March 22, after authorities accused him of acquiring credit cards using his father's name without permission and using the cards to pay off debts. Since then, Alexander has dispatched officers to locations throughout Florida in unsuccessful attempts to nab Phillips. On Monday, though, Phillips' luck ran out. After seeing the former officer, Alexander quietly slipped into the general store and took his wife by the arm. "Get the phone from the clerk and call 911," he whispered. "Kevin Phillips is in the store." Dawn Alexander, a former Inverness police officer, took the portable phone outside and dialed the number. Phillips, who was standing in the checkout line, apparently saw them. He put down the items be was about to buy and started walking quickly out of the store. Ambrose and Alexander followed him, shouting greetings. Alexander even stuck out his hand for a handshake. Whether it was just good manners or a mistaken belief his former boss wasn't aware of the warrants, Phillips shook his hand. Alexander clamped down. "I put my hand on his triceps and said, 'You know you've got a lot of outstanding warrants that you need to take care of. Let's do this quietly,' " he said. Phillips said he was aware of the warrants and waited peacefully for deputies from the Osceola Sheriff's Office to arrive. He even made small talk with his captors. "He asked me if we were in Kissimmee for the weekend," Alexander said. "I said no, we had just come up for dinner. He said, 'You're kidding me.' " Phillips was taken to the Osceola County jail, where he was being held in lieu of $7,000 bail. Assistant State Attorney Hal Epperson said Phillips is wanted in Osceola County on one count each of grand theft, dealing in stolen property and giving false information to a pawn broker. The charges stem from an incident in March when Phillips is accused of stealing more than $2,000 worth of property from a person he befriended, who allowed Phillips to live with him, Epperson said. Among the stolen items were a videotape recorder, stereo equipment, a lawn mower and sunglasses, he said. Phillips is wanted in Lee County on the failure to pay child support charge, Alexander said. Carole Garcia, a spokeswoman for the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, said Phillips listed a Fort Myers address as his home on his arrest papers. Alexander said Phillips told him he had been in Kissimmee for only eight days. "Just think, if I hadn't happened to turn around, he would have been 10 feet away from us and we never would have seen him," Alexander said. "It was a chance thing, but we're very, very happy with the outcome." -- Crime reporter Carrie Johnson can be reached at 860-7309 or cjohnson@sptimes.com.
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