Osage Beach police officer dies during pursuit

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Osage Beach police officer died in a car crash while chasing another vehicle, the department said on Saturday morning.

The Osage Beach Police Department said that Officer Phylicia Carson died on Saturday while pursuing another car.

Chief Todd Davis said in a news conference on Saturday that officers saw a speeding car around 1:18 a.m. on Highway 54 near Passover Rd. The officer initiated a traffic stop on the car and the driver sped away.

An officer began to pursue the car down Highway 54 exiting onto Route Y, then onto Midway Rd., then onto A Rd., according to Davis. At around 1:36 a.m., Osage Beach Communications was told by the Camden County Sheriff's Department Communication center that responding deputies found an Osage Beach patrol car on fire off the road.

Officers tried to contact the police officers in the pursuit but were unable to contact them.

At around 1:42 a.m., Osage Beach Communications got a phone call that the car being pursued crashed on A Rd. near Canary Ln. The driver was taken into custody.

Carson died in the crash. She was a secondary unit in the pursuit, according to Davis. She has been with the department since June of 2023. It is unclear where exactly the crash happened.

This is the department's first line-of-duty death Davis said he is aware of. He has been working for the city for 30 years.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and criminal investigation.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, Carson crossed the middle of Route A east of Toronto Springs Park Rd. during the pursuit when her patrol car began to skid. She skidded off the left side of the road, hitting a tree. The 2024 Ford Explorer then caught on fire. Carson was pronounced dead on scene, according to the report.

The Highway Patrol, Camden County Sheriff's Department, Miller County Sheriff's Department, Camden County Ambulance District, and Mid-County Fire Protection District assisted.

Mayor Michael Harmison offered his condolences to Carson's family during the press conference.

Camden County Prosecutor Richelle Grosvenor said at the press conference that this is currently an active investigation and would not speak on the facts of the case. She also mentioned the new Valentine's Law that went into effect Wednesday and that it would potentially be a part of the criminal case.

The law states that fleeing from law enforcement can be up to a class A Felony.

Grosvenor said due to the holiday it may take until Tuesday for charges to become available to read.

Missouri Public Safety posted to X offering their condolences.

3 days after MO’s new Valentine’s Law took effect, establishing the crime of aggravated fleeing, Osage Beach Police Officer Phylicia Carson was killed in the line of duty pursuing a fleeing suspect early this morning. Our hearts go out to her husband & 6 children #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/8j8OK0yx39

— MO Public Safety (@MoPublicSafety) August 31, 2024

Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe also posted about the incident to X.

Today we mourn the loss of Osage Beach Police Officer, Phylicia Carson, who lost her life in the line of duty early this morning. @ClaudiaLKehoe and I extend our heartfelt condolences to Officer Carson’s husband, their six children, and her fellow officers.

We must remember… pic.twitter.com/Oa5OYxv1vh

— Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe (@LtGovMikeKehoe) August 31, 2024

This is a developing story. Check back here for more details.