Accomplice sought in cop's shooting

Officials believe they know who helped steal a gun that led to the sergeant's death.

By JUSTIN GEORGE, Times Staff Writer
Published September 7, 2007

TAMPA - Volusia County sheriff's investigators have targeted a man they say helped Michael Allen Phillips steal the gun that killed Hillsborough sheriff's Sgt. Ronald Harrison.

Volusia detectives have linked the gun to a July 3 burglary of a pawnshop near DeLand, where five pistols and tens of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry were stolen by two men, one of whom resembles Phillips, authorities said.

Hillsborough authorities believe Phillips is the person who ambushed and killed Harrison early Aug. 15 shortly after the 55-year-old sergeant set up a DUI checkpoint in Brandon. Sheriff's snipers gunned down Phillips, 24, three hours later after he had barricaded himself in his house and fired at deputies.

The gun Phillips used matched one of the guns stolen from the AAA Gun and Pawn store in DeLand, Volusia officials said. The burglars left behind two new hammers, which were traced back to a Wal-Mart in Orange City.

Surveillance video at the retail store captured images of two men buying the tools used in the burglary and also a pickup truck with wide, worn mud tires they left in.

Investigators believe Phillips is one of the men, and they believe they know the identity of the other one.

"We've identified a pretty solid suspect," Volusia sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said. "But we're still investigating at this time. We don't have enough physical evidence to charge him, but we're still investigating the evidence at the (burglary) scene. The suspect is a known accomplice of Phillips.

"We're pretty confident we're on the right track."

Wednesday, Hillsborough sheriff's officials said many recovered stolen goods in Phillips' home have been linked to Volusia County burglaries.

[Last modified September 6, 2007, 23:53:28]