Suspect in ramming of NHP trooper is parolee

Keith Paul

Tuesday, April 24, 2001 | 10:50 a.m.

A 25-year-old man accused of running down a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper during a high speed chase Saturday served only about half of a seven-year sentence for robbery in California before being paroled.

State troopers who gathered outside University Medical Center in a vigil for injured Trooper Robert "Bobby" Kintzel could only shake their heads when they learned the suspect was a convicted felon who was also a suspect in a Las Vegas homicide.

"We need to keep our minds on what we're doing out there," Trooper Dan Larason said. "But Bobby never leaves our minds."

Doctors had said there was nothing more they could do for Kintzel after brain surgery, but then the injured officer began to move and coughed early this morning, said Trooper Alan Davidson, a Highway Patrol spokesman.

"They are going to do more tests today," he said.

Kintzel was hit while attempting to put down metal spikes to puncture the tires of a vehicle driven by a suspect who was fleeing from police on U.S. 95 near Flamingo Road about 8:30 a.m. Saturday. After the trooper was struck, a Metro Police officer rammed the hijacked sport utility vehicle to end the chase.

Vornelius Jamal Phillips was arrested on the highway and charged with attempted murder of a police officer and several other felonies.

Phillips went into a California prison at age 19 in December 1995 on a second-degree robbery conviction. He was sentenced to seven years but was paroled on Feb. 22, 1999.

"Under our system, for many crimes you are eligible for parole after you serve half your term," said Russ Heimerich, a California Department of Corrections spokesman.

Phillips served a little more than half his sentence, counting the time he was in jail before his conviction. It appeared he had not violated the terms of his release prior to his arrest in Las Vegas, Heimerich said.

That provided little solace to troopers pulling for their fellow officer to recover.

"This isn't just a job to us. We are all family," Trooper J. Olschlager said.

Kintzel's wife, mother and other family members were surrounded by troopers who offered support.

A Maryland tourist injured during Saturday's chase, 59-year-old Joan Lewis, was upgraded to serious condition.

Metro homicide detectives are investigating connections between Saturday's strangulation slaying of 40-year-old Ivy Jean Miller in a Budget Suites motel and Phillips.

Police speculated that if Phillips was connected to the homicide, it may be a reason for his 35-minute high-speed run from police, which included two carjackings.

The pursuit started after Phillips hailed a cab at the Las Vegas Convention Center and went to McCarran International Airport. Police say Phillips then got behind the wheel of another cab while the driver was handling baggage and speeding off.

Lewis was in the back seat of the cab as it sped off. Davidson said Lewis asked Phillips to let her out but, when he refused, Lewis jumped from the cab.

When traffic stopped for another accident on Interstate 215, Phillips allegedly approached the driver of an SUV and forced his way in. The driver was able to get out.

Phillips is also accused of then continuing on I-215 toward Henderson. Officers from Henderson, Boulder City, Metro and the National Park Service police became involved.

The chase ended after Kintzel was struck when a Metro officer saw Phillips cut across three lanes of traffic and appeared headed toward a car that was entering U.S. 95. The officer rammed the hijacked SUV, pushing it into a concrete barrier.