Hardin County man charged with attempted murder of a Savannah police officer

UPDATE, 4:30 p.m. – Hardin County Sheriff Johnny Alexander said Thursday afternoon that Westin Phillips, 30, with an Old Stage Road, Adamsville address, is also facing two counts of attempted first degree murder of a law enforcement officer for allegedly shooting at two of his investigators as they pursued Phillips on Tuesday.

Phillips was apprehended “without incident” around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday after being spotted by a TBI aircraft around a half mile from where a hunter reported seeing a mud-covered man with facial tattoos on Gammill Slough Road, he said.

Phillips is additionally charged with felony evading arrest, and unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon, according to Alexander.

INITIAL STORY – A local man is charged with attempted second degree murder of a police officer, the Savannah Police Department reports.

Westin Phillips, 30, was apprehended by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday after allegedly firing a single shot at a city police detective Tuesday afternoon, Savannah Police Chief Michael Pitts said.

According to the chief, the detective spotted a 1999 Jeep which had been stolen in Savannah on Sunday traveling behind Hardin County High School and attempted to make a traffic stop. The vehicle fled and a short pursuit ensued.

During the pursuit, the passenger in the vehicle jumped out and ran in the area of Stadium Drive and Sharon Drive, and was apprehended moments later. The driver of the vehicle allegedly fired a shot and continued to flee into the county.

At that point, the pursuit was turned over to the Sheriff’s Department and became the subject of an extended manhunt.

In addition to attempted murder, police have charged Phillips with possession of a stolen vehicle, felony evading arrest, and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. The passenger in the Jeep is facing a charge of fleeing to elude arrest, Pitts said.

No shots were fired by police and no city officers were injured, he said.

Hardin County Sheriff Johnny Alexander said he expects to release additional information about the incident soon.