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News / Northwest

Driver fatally shot during encounter with deputies

The Columbian
Published: April 29, 2012, 5:00pm

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — The Josephine County sheriff’s office says deputies fatally shot a driver who fled after deputies tried to pull him over for a traffic stop.

The Grants Pass Daily Courier reports (http://bit.ly/IPQp5B) the man was wanted on a warrant for skipping a court date, had a background of drug and other convictions, and faced a court date next week on methamphetamine charges.

The sheriff’s office said a deputy and a reserve deputy chased the truck Saturday night.

The deputies say the driver skidded to a stop at Cave Junction, put the pickup truck in reverse and rammed the patrol car.

The deputies fired at the driver, identified as 46-year-old Walter Britt Phillips of Cave Junction. He was airlifted to a Medford hospital where he died.

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Information from: Daily Courier, http://www.thedailycourier.com

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