Fugitive arrested after fleeing traffic stop, nearly running over detective

Trevor Myers
·1 min read

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Salt Lake City Police have arrested a driver who provided officers with false information and sped away from a traffic stop after being asked to exit the vehicle, nearly running over a detective.

SLCPD said the man driving the car — later identified as parole fugitive Girato Kamilo Phillip, 33 — nearly ran over a detective with SLCPD’s Gang Unit as he drove away from the scene. The detective was able to move out of the way of Phillip’s car “just in time to escape injury,” according to SLCPD.

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The investigation began just before 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 4 when Phillip’s car was stopped by officers near 950 West 200 South. Phillip is accused of speeding away from the traffic stop.

After driving away from the traffic stop, Phillip crashed the car into a building near South Pueblo Street, police said. No one in the building was injured, according to police, and Phillip and the passenger in the car had injuries that were deemed non-life-threatening.

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 on Feb. 4, 2024.
Courtesy of Salt Lake City Police

After the crash, detectives conducted a felony traffic stop and entered the building, where Phillip was arrested.

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Phillip was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on the following charges:

  • 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

  • Driving on a denied license

“Our officers are trained to maintain a constant focus of their surroundings,” Chief Mike Brown said. “Traffic stops can turn into dangerous situations very quickly. Keeping that awareness is essential to their safety.”

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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