A Missouri police officer and mother of six sadly lost her life during a high-speed chase. Her patrol vehicle went out of control while trying to make a traffic stop.
Officer Phylicia Carson, 33, from the Osage Beach Police Department, was on duty around 1:20 a.m. Sunday when she saw a car speeding on a rural road in Camden County, close to the Lake of the Ozarks, according to Chief Todd Davis in a press conference held Saturday.
Carson turned on her emergency lights and started following the suspect to make an arrest but the driver sped away. During the pursuit, Carson lost control of her patrol car and crashed into a tree after veering off the road.
Chief Davis stated that upon impact, the patrol car caught fire.
The department got reports about a burning vehicle along the highway where Officer Carson was chasing after the suspect. Efforts to contact her were unsuccessful.
“Officer Carson lost her life in this crash,” Chief Todd Davis said with tears in his eyes as he wiped them away.
The suspect, Christopher Aaron Bishop Wehmeyer who is 23 years old crashed just minutes after Carson while trying to escape and was arrested later by police.
Officer Carson had joined this department in June 2023. She leaves behind her husband Grant Carson and their six children.
“Please keep our thoughts with Officer Carson’s family , our Department ,and our community as we deal with this sad event,” Davis said.
This investigation is still ongoing by Missouri State Highway Patrol.
According to sheriff records ,the suspect has been charged with resisting arrest ,attempting to flee and causing death of an officer .He is currently being held at Camden County Jail without bond.
Officer Carson’s passing marks the first loss for this police department while on duty in three decades .
Lieutenant Governor of Missouri shared tribute for Officer Carson on X:
Today we mourn Osage Beach Police Officer Phylicia Caron who tragically died early today while serving . @ClaudiaLKehoe and I send our deepest condolences to Officer Carsons husband their six kids & fellow officers.We must remember… pic.twitter.com/Oa5OYxv1vh
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