Tulsa Police ID Officers Involved In Suspect Shooting

By Lori Fullbright and NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- The two police officers involved in the shooting of federal fugitive Denny Phillips Monday afternoon have been placed on routine administrative leave pending an investigation by the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office. 

Monday afternoon, Tulsa Police, along with other law enforcement agencies, located Phillips at a Tulsa motel at 11^th and Garnett. 

During the process of arresting Phillips, police say he ran from officers and then turned around and pointed a firearm at police. 

Tulsa Police say before Phillips could discharge the firearm, officers Victor Regalado and Jack Pike fired their weapons, striking Phillips in the abdomen. 

4/26/2010 Related story: Tulsa Police Shoot Man Wanted By Tulsa And Oklahoma City Police

EMSA transported Phillips to a Tulsa hospital, where he is listed in critical condition. 

The Oklahoma County D.A. tells The News On 6, Denny Phillips is a key person of interest in the murders of one man and three women, including two that were pregnant, in Oklahoma City last fall.

The News On 6 has also learned Phillips had a gun on him Monday night that had been stolen from a Tulsa sergeant's home.

The News On 6 learned several people told police, Phillips wanted to shoot a cop and he wouldn't be taken without a fight. Police say that's why they weren't surprised when Phillips pointed that stolen gun at them and even after being shot, kept reaching for that gun.

Phillips' MySpace page lists his occupation as cage fighter and posts some pictures of him at fight venues. The News On 6 found video of him on YouTube of his first professional Mixed Martial Arts fight when he lost by way of a knockout. That was last May and his last MMA bout. 

Phillips also talks about his Native American Pride. Officers tell The News On 6 he claims to be a member of the Indian Brotherhood, a prison gang. Prison records show Phillips served time for a number of crimes in Mayes County, including stabbing a man at a convenience store, theft and escape. He was sent there in December of 1996 and released in May of 2007. 

Phillips is a person of interest in the murders of one man and three women in Oklahoma City last November. One of the pregnant women had been on the cable TV show, Cathouse, featuring prostitutes.

"I believe citizens, good, hard working, honest citizens, don't come in contact with evil, but there is evil in the world and this man is evil," said Det. Mike Nance, Tulsa Police.

Phillips popped up on the radar of Tulsa Police a few days ago when an informant told homicide Sergeant Mike Huff, Phillips was trying to sell two guns -- two guns that Huff recognized as having been stolen from his home during a burglary last Wednesday. 

Officers found Phillips' vehicle at the Motel 6 in East Tulsa and when they confronted him, say he pulled one of Sergeant Huff's guns on them and two officers fired back.

"We had several people tell us he wanted to go out in a blaze of glory and take a cop when he did so," said Nance.

Phillips is currently facing drug and gun charges in Mayes County. The Oklahoma County D.A. tells The News On 6, he sent a memo to his staff Monday, warning them to be on the lookout, afraid Phillips would use the stolen police uniform and badge, also taken from Sergeant Huff's home, to try to get into the D.A.'s office to do harm.