By Matthew Paulding
The Ralph “Bucky” Phillips case drew national media attention and gave local media stories that ranged from quirky to tragic.
New York State Trooper Rebecca Gibbons and Buffalo News reporter Gene Warner discussed the case as well as media’s impact on criminal matters in a meeting with Buffalo State College students March 1.
On April 2, 2006, Phillips used a can opener to escape from the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden.
After spending 20 years in prison for burglary and car theft, Phillips’ crimes became more violent as police closed in.
More than five months after his escape, Phillips was arrested by New York State Police following one of the largest manhunts in state history. In the months leading to his arrest, Phillips killed State Trooper Joseph A. Longobardo and wounded troopers Donald H. Baker Jr. and Sean Brown.
Some state troopers were unhappy with the case’s local media coverage. The Buffalo News was critical of the problems the manhunt caused in Chautauqua County. Long lines of cars were scattered across the county due to police conducting vehicle searches for Phillips.
“Our job is not to aid state police,” Warner said. “We will comply with their requests in certain cases, but our job is to present the facts.”
Despite being portrayed as a dangerous criminal, Phillips gained popularity among some local residents who were fascinated by his ability to elude law enforcement.
State troopers were not amused with the Bucky fanfare.
“Being in law enforcement, you’re going to have opposition, that’s part of your job,” Gibbons said. “We had three troopers that had been shot; one that died. We took this very seriously because we wanted everyone to know that this was a dangerous man.”
The case received national media coverage. “America’s Most Wanted” profiled Phillips in multiple episodes and the FBI placed him on the notorious “Ten Most Wanted” list.
On Nov. 29, 2006, Phillips pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder. He was sent to Clinton Correction Facility at Dannemora, about 170 miles north of Albany. Barring another escape, Phillips will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Contact Matthew Paulding at Paulms75@mail.buffalostate.edu
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