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SLCPD Arrest Parole Fugitive Who Nearly Hit Gang Detective While Speeding Away from Traffic Stop

SALT LAKE CITY — Detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Gang Unit safely arrested a 33-year-old man after he drove away from a traffic stop and nearly ran over a detective.

The detective moved away from the car just in time to escape injury.

This investigation started at 1:29 a.m. on Sunday, February 4, 2024, when SLCPD detectives stopped a car near 950 West 200 South.

The driver, later identified as Girato Kamilo Phillip, initially provided false information to detectives about his name. When detectives asked Philip to get out of the car, he threw the car into drive and immediately accelerated.

“Our officers are trained to maintain a constant focus of their surroundings,” said Chief Mike Brown. “Traffic stops can turn into dangerous situations very quickly. Keeping that awareness is essential to their safety. This case demonstrates the physical agility our officers must have, and maintain throughout their career, so that when safety is jeopardized, our officers can react to protect themselves and our community.”

Phillip is accused of driving away from the traffic stop at a high rate of speed.

He crashed his car into a building near 161 South Pueblo Street.

Most of the suspect’s car went into the building.

The crash did not result in any one inside the building being hurt.

Detectives conducted a felony traffic stop and entered the building to perform a rescue.

Detectives safely arrested  Phillip and his passenger.

Paramedics from Salt Lake City Fire and Gold Cross responded.

Phillip and his passenger had non-life-threatening injuries.

During their investigation, detectives determined  Phillip to be a parole fugitive.

Detectives booked  Phillip into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of failing to respond to an officer’s signal to stop resulting in injury, aggravated assault, false information with intent to be another actual person, reckless driving, operating a vehicle without insurance, and driving on a denied license.

Detectives did not arrest the passenger.

A photo from the scene is being released. Media may use this photo with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

The Salt Lake City Police Department’s Gang Unit is responsible for investigating gang-related crimes that occur within the city’s jurisdiction. The unit consists of highly trained uniformed officers and detectives who work collaboratively with patrol divisions and other specialty squads within the SLCPD to gather information and focus on preventing gang and gun violence through education, prevention, and enforcement.

Photo: Salt Lake City Police officers and detectives assigned to the Gang Unit investigate a crash near 210 South Pueblo Street that happened following a pursuit (SLCPD photo, February 4, 2024).

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