Police official says hunters face risk: Officers searching woods for man suspected in ambush that left officer dead

FREDONIA, N.Y. - A state police official said "the noose istightening" in the manhunt for an escaped inmate accused of a deadlypolice ambush, and warned hunters to stay out of the woods where thefugitive may be hiding.

Hunters in rural and wooded Chautauqua County are "interfering"with the search and face danger from Ralph "Bucky" Phillips andauthorities pursuing him, State Police Maj. Michael Manning said.

"They can certainly be mistaken for the wrong individual," Manningsaid.

Many officers are scouring the western New York woods forPhillips, the prime suspect in Thursday's ambush of troopers DonaldBaker Jr., 38, and Joseph Longobardo, 32, who died Sunday. Bakerremained in serious condition at a hospital Monday, police said.

Phillips, 44, wounded another trooper near Elmira in June and haseluded police since his April 2 escape from an Erie County jail.

SWAT teams from Buffalo, Rochester and Jamestown joined troopersin the search Monday, Manning said. Other reinforcements have comefrom the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, nearby Erie County andpolice agencies in neighboring Pennsylvania.

Manning would not say how many law enforcement officers areinvolved in the manhunt, but said the search and recent arrests ofPhillips' supporters have put pressure on the suspect.

"I think he's in hiding. I don't think he has any place to gonow," Manning said. "The noose is tightening."

Manning added that there is "no reason to believe he has left thearea."

Baker and Longobardo were in woods behind the isolated hilltophome of Phillips' former girlfriend when a gunman caught them bysurprise and fired 11 high-powered rifle rounds, police said.Longobardo died three days after being hit by a bullet that severed amajor artery in his leg. Baker was wounded by a bullet that piercedhis bullet-resistant vest.

There is a $225,000 reward for information leading to the arrestof Phillips, who has threatened "suicide by cop" and once promised to"to splatter pig meat all over Chautauqua County."

He has left a trail of burglaries and car thefts across centraland western New York and neighboring Pennsylvania. He is suspected ofstealing 41 weapons from a gun shop in late August, including riflesof the type that could have been used in Thursday's ambush.

Phillips' former girlfriend, their daughter and the daughter'sboyfriend have been charged with helping him elude authorities.

The pastor of a Roman Catholic church near Phillips' hometown onMonday renewed his offer to help the fugitive surrender, but Manningsaid Phillips and his family and friends do not need an intermediary.

"All they have to do is call and say Ralph Phillips wants to turnhimself in, he's at this present location." Manning said. "We will behappy to meet him and guarantee his safety."

Police official says hunters face risk: Officers searching woods for man suspected in ambush that left officer dead

FREDONIA, N.Y. - A state police official said "the noose istightening" in the manhunt for an escaped inmate accused of a deadlypolice ambush, and warned hunters to stay out of the woods where thefugitive may be hiding.

Hunters in rural and wooded Chautauqua County are "interfering"with the search and face danger from Ralph "Bucky" Phillips andauthorities pursuing him, State Police Maj. Michael Manning said.

"They can certainly be mistaken for the wrong individual," Manningsaid.

Many officers are scouring the western New York woods forPhillips, the prime suspect in Thursday's ambush of troopers DonaldBaker Jr., 38, and Joseph Longobardo, 32, who died Sunday. Bakerremained in serious condition at a hospital Monday, police said.

Phillips, 44, wounded another trooper near Elmira in June and haseluded police since his April 2 escape from an Erie County jail.

SWAT teams from Buffalo, Rochester and Jamestown joined troopersin the search Monday, Manning said. Other reinforcements have comefrom the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, nearby Erie County andpolice agencies in neighboring Pennsylvania.

Manning would not say how many law enforcement officers areinvolved in the manhunt, but said the search and recent arrests ofPhillips' supporters have put pressure on the suspect.

"I think he's in hiding. I don't think he has any place to gonow," Manning said. "The noose is tightening."

Manning added that there is "no reason to believe he has left thearea."

Baker and Longobardo were in woods behind the isolated hilltophome of Phillips' former girlfriend when a gunman caught them bysurprise and fired 11 high-powered rifle rounds, police said.Longobardo died three days after being hit by a bullet that severed amajor artery in his leg. Baker was wounded by a bullet that piercedhis bullet-resistant vest.

There is a $225,000 reward for information leading to the arrestof Phillips, who has threatened "suicide by cop" and once promised to"to splatter pig meat all over Chautauqua County."

He has left a trail of burglaries and car thefts across centraland western New York and neighboring Pennsylvania. He is suspected ofstealing 41 weapons from a gun shop in late August, including riflesof the type that could have been used in Thursday's ambush.

Phillips' former girlfriend, their daughter and the daughter'sboyfriend have been charged with helping him elude authorities.

The pastor of a Roman Catholic church near Phillips' hometown onMonday renewed his offer to help the fugitive surrender, but Manningsaid Phillips and his family and friends do not need an intermediary.

"All they have to do is call and say Ralph Phillips wants to turnhimself in, he's at this present location." Manning said. "We will behappy to meet him and guarantee his safety."