Scott Phillips, husband of Malinda Phillips, the Park Hill, OK., woman who was the innocent victim of a crash caused by a man fleeing police, shared a photo on Facebook showing his wife in happier days. She was 36.
Scott said the snap depicted the very first time he and his wife had sat down for a photo together. In the sad post, he says that he’s “lost without her,” and that he “loves her.”
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At the time of the crash, Aram Barak Catron, 36, a known local criminal, was fleeing law enforcement in a black Ford pickup after he had been observed shoplifting a few dollars worth of merchandise from a Tahlequah Walmart.
Tahlequah Police Chief said a Cherokee Nation marshal had spotted Catron and tried to stop him when the suspect sped away.
During the pursuit, Catron t-boned Phillips after running a stop sign. The violent crash was heard by neighbors living blocks away.
“They had to have been going about 90, 100 because we heard the car I heard the truck and then I heard the cop engine speed up,” said neighbor, Kaysha Smallen.
“I heard it and when I got out here I saw the aftermath of it,” said Smallen.
Phillips was operating a 2017 Buick Encore when Catron struck and killed her at the intersection of West Ave., & W. Choctaw St., Tahlequah, OK.
According kjrh, Catron has a checkered past.
There are 14 court cases against him in Delaware County in the past 17 years and two more in Cherokee County from traffic citations to civil misdemeanors to seven felonies. In a case where he was charged with seven felonies, some of the charges he pled guilty to were eluding police, leaving the scene of an injury collision, driving under the influence of alcohol, carrying a firearm while under the influence and speeding.
Police said Catron was transported to the hospital but his condition was not known.
“What started out as a minor shoplifting call has turned into a very complex case,” the chief said.
Department of Corrections records show Catron served 6 years over some of the above charges.
His most recent court appearance just one week ago.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends at this difficult time.