Major developments in deputy’s death

 

 

Staff Report

 

Two major developments occurred last week in a line-of-duty death of a local law enforcement officer.

Russell County Deputy Sheriff Josh Phipps was killed after responding to a call on September 16 of last year.

Phipps was assisting fellow officers who were involved in pursuit of a vehicle which reportedly travelled to Bluebird Drive, in Russell Springs, when gunfire broke out, authorities said.

Both Phipps and Joshua Arnold, 41, died in the incident, the Kentucky State Police (KSP) said.

Last Thursday, troopers from Post 15, in Columbia, served an arrest warrant for Linda M. Ashbrook, of Russell Springs, a report said.

Ashbrook was charged with alleged Complicity to Murder, Hindering Prosecution, Wanton Endangerment, and Persistent Felony Offender relating to the death of Deputy Phipps, and was taken into custody without incident, a statement said.

Two other individuals were with her at the time and were arrested on outstanding warrants not related to the officer-involved shooting investigation.

At press time, authorities did not elaborate on Ashbrook’s alleged involvement in the deputy’s death.

Last Tuesday, an Indiana man was sentenced to federal prison in connection with a gun allegedly used in Phipps’ death.

Shawn Michael Kays, 42, of Terre Haute, IN., was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally transferring a firearm to a convicted felon, court records said.

According to a plea agreement, between November of 2023 and January of 2024, Kays transported and transferred a Smith & Wesson, Model SD9VE, nine-millimeter pistol to a convicted felon, a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Officer, Western District of Kentucky, said.

A criminal complaint filed on September 19, 2024, alleged the firearm in question was later used to kill a Russell County Sheriff’s Deputy on September 16, 2024, court documents said.

Kays is not charged with or alleged to have been involved in the shooting, authorities said.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, and Sheriff Derek Polston of the Russell County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement last week.

Sheriff Polston said on social media the sentencing is only “one piece” of an extensive investigation.

This case was investigated by the ATF Bowling Green Branch Office and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the ATF Columbus Field Division, the ATF Indianapolis Field Division Office, and the Kentucky State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Nicholas Rabold, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted this case.

According to court documents, there is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Meanwhile, the KSP Critical Incident Response Team continues to investigate

KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the commonwealth as requested by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation.

To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP’s standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case, a spokesman said.