A Missouri police officer and mother of six tragically lost her life during a high-speed pursuit. Her patrol car went out of control while attempting to make a traffic stop.
Officer Phylicia Carson, 33, of the Osage Beach Police Department, was on duty around 1:20 a.m. Sunday when she noticed a vehicle speeding on a rural road in Camden County, near the Lake of the Ozarks, according to Chief Todd Davis in a press conference held Saturday.
Carson activated her emergency lights and began to follow the suspect to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver accelerated and fled. During the chase, Carson lost control of her patrol car, veering off the road and crashing into a tree.
Chief Davis reported that upon impact, the patrol car burst into flames.
The department received a report of a vehicle on fire along the highway where Officer Carson was pursuing the suspect. Attempts to reach her were unsuccessful.
“Officer Carson lost her life in the crash,” Chief Todd Davis said, his voice breaking as he wiped away tears.
The suspect, 23-year-old Christopher Aaron Bishop Wehmeyer, crashed just minutes after Carson while trying to flee and was arrested later, per the police.
Officer Carson had joined the department in June 2023. She is survived by her husband, Grant Carson, and her six children.
“Please keep the Carson family, our Department, and our community in your thoughts and prayers as we work through this tragic event,” Davis said.
This is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
According to sheriff records, the suspect has been charged with resisting arrest, attempting to flee and the death of a police officer. He is currently held in Camden County Jail without bond.
Officer Carson’s death is the first on duty loss for the police department in 30 years.
Lieutenant Governor of the State of Missouri posted a tribute to Carson on 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
Rest In Peace
