BUFFALO - Fugitive Ralph “Bucky” Phillips, suspected of killing one state trooper and wounding two others, may have spent 11 days hiding out in a western Pennsylvania home last month, slipping back into New York at least once to steal 41 guns from a gun shop, authorities said Wednesday.
Federal marshals named Phillips to their Most Wanted” list Wednesday, upping the ante in the two-state manhunt.
As New York State Police searched the woods of Chautauqua County for Phillips at the end of August, he was staying - at least some of the time - at the home of Todd Allen Nelson in Ludlow, Pa., Pennsylvania state police said Wednesday.
Nelson, 30, was arrested Aug. 31 and charged with hindering the apprehension of Phillips after Pennsylvania troopers recovered 35 guns believed stolen from the Ellington, gun shop at his McKean County home.
Phillips is the main suspect in the gun shop break-in, which occurred Aug. 26 or Aug. 27. In all, 41 guns, including 35 handguns and six long guns, were taken.
Among the long guns stolen was a Mossberg shotgun, and five rifles: A Bushmaster Shorty, a Century Arms WASR-10, a CETME Sporter, a DPMS AR-15 and a Remington 7400, made for deer hunting.
“We know now that a total of 35 firearms are in the custody of law enforcement,” said ATF spokesman Joseph Green. “The remaining weapons are two pistols, one shotgun, and three high-powered rifles that are still unaccounted for and we are actively seeking those weapons and seeking information.”
Investigators are looking into whether one of the stolen guns was used in the shooting of two New York state troopers on Aug. 31 in the Chautauqua County town of Pomfret as they staked out the home of Phillips' former girlfriend.
Trooper Joseph Longobardo died Sunday; Donald Baker Jr. has been in critical condition since the shooting. Both troopers were struck with bullets from a high-powered rifle.
Nelson is accused of harboring Phillips at his home, about 20 miles south of the state line, between Aug. 17 and Aug. 28, Pennsylvania Trooper Bruce Morris said.
The search for Phillips, a career thief who broke out of an Erie County jail in April, has become one of the largest in New York history, with nearly 300 troopers and officers from numerous other agencies combing the rural and heavily wooded Chautauqua County and conducting traffic checkpoints along rambling country back roads.
In naming Phillips to the U.S. Marshals most wanted list, Marshals Service Director John Clark said the fugitive “has shown he is as dangerous as he is desperate. As such, Phillips is a major threat to the safety of communities throughout an entire region.”
Authorities believe Phillips has been helped by numerous people since his escape, but has also broken into unoccupied hunting cabins in New York and Pennsylvania and stolen about 15 cars to remain one step ahead of police, authorities said.
He is suspected of shooting a state trooper near Elmira June 10 as the officer approached the stolen car he was believed to be driving. Trooper Sean Brown survived. Nelson was the seventh person arrested for allegedly helping Phillips. He was in McKean County Jail Wednesday, with bail set at $25,000, Warden Tim Woodruff said. He was also being held on a detainer from Stockton Town Court in Chautauqua County, accused of criminal possession of stolen property.
A woman who answered the phone at Nelson's house hung up when an Associated Press reporter identified herself.
A $225,000 reward has been offered for information leading to Phillips' arrest and conviction.
As New York State Police searched the woods of Chautauqua County for Phillips at the end of August, he was staying - at least some of the time - at the home of Todd Allen Nelson in Ludlow, Pa., Pennsylvania state police said Wednesday.
Nelson, 30, was arrested Aug. 31 and charged with hindering the apprehension of Phillips after Pennsylvania troopers recovered 35 guns believed stolen from the Ellington, gun shop at his McKean County home.
Phillips is the main suspect in the gun shop break-in, which occurred Aug. 26 or Aug. 27. In all, 41 guns, including 35 handguns and six long guns, were taken.
Among the long guns stolen was a Mossberg shotgun, and five rifles: A Bushmaster Shorty, a Century Arms WASR-10, a CETME Sporter, a DPMS AR-15 and a Remington 7400, made for deer hunting.
“We know now that a total of 35 firearms are in the custody of law enforcement,” said ATF spokesman Joseph Green. “The remaining weapons are two pistols, one shotgun, and three high-powered rifles that are still unaccounted for and we are actively seeking those weapons and seeking information.”
Investigators are looking into whether one of the stolen guns was used in the shooting of two New York state troopers on Aug. 31 in the Chautauqua County town of Pomfret as they staked out the home of Phillips' former girlfriend.
Trooper Joseph Longobardo died Sunday; Donald Baker Jr. has been in critical condition since the shooting. Both troopers were struck with bullets from a high-powered rifle.
Nelson is accused of harboring Phillips at his home, about 20 miles south of the state line, between Aug. 17 and Aug. 28, Pennsylvania Trooper Bruce Morris said.
The search for Phillips, a career thief who broke out of an Erie County jail in April, has become one of the largest in New York history, with nearly 300 troopers and officers from numerous other agencies combing the rural and heavily wooded Chautauqua County and conducting traffic checkpoints along rambling country back roads.
In naming Phillips to the U.S. Marshals most wanted list, Marshals Service Director John Clark said the fugitive “has shown he is as dangerous as he is desperate. As such, Phillips is a major threat to the safety of communities throughout an entire region.”
Authorities believe Phillips has been helped by numerous people since his escape, but has also broken into unoccupied hunting cabins in New York and Pennsylvania and stolen about 15 cars to remain one step ahead of police, authorities said.
He is suspected of shooting a state trooper near Elmira June 10 as the officer approached the stolen car he was believed to be driving. Trooper Sean Brown survived. Nelson was the seventh person arrested for allegedly helping Phillips. He was in McKean County Jail Wednesday, with bail set at $25,000, Warden Tim Woodruff said. He was also being held on a detainer from Stockton Town Court in Chautauqua County, accused of criminal possession of stolen property.
A woman who answered the phone at Nelson's house hung up when an Associated Press reporter identified herself.
A $225,000 reward has been offered for information leading to Phillips' arrest and conviction.
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