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.
A news release from the department said an unnamed officer died on Saturday while pursuing another car. The release said the department "was involved in a pursuit of another vehicle." An officer taking part in that chase crashed, according to the release.
The department held a press conference Saturday at around 9 a.m.
Osage Beach Police Chief Todd Davis, Osage Beach Mayor Michael Harmison and Camden County Prosecuting Attorney Richelle Grosvenor spoke at the press conference.
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.
On August 31. at around 1:18 a.m., an Osage Beach police officer Phylicia Carson saw a car speeding on Highway 54 near Passover Rd., according to Davis. 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 Sheriffs Department Communication center that responding deputies found an Osage Beach patrol car on fire off the road.
Officers tried to contact the 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.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and criminal investigation.
The Highway Patrol, Camden County Sheriffs Department, Miller County Sheriffs Department, Camden County Ambulance District, and Mid-County Fire Protection District.
The Mayor offered his condolences to Carson's family during the press conference.
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 and 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.
— Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe (@LtGovMikeKehoe) August 31, 2024
We must remember… pic.twitter.com/Oa5OYxv1vh
This is a developing story. Check back here for more details.
