Man who killed OP officer had ‘violent’ past; prosecutor wanted his bond revoked
Days before Phillip Michael Carney killed an Overland Park police officer during a shootout in which he also died, a Douglas County prosecutor sought to revoke his bond pending trial on several charges.
Two of Carney’s relatives also wanted him behind bars, citing his threats of violence.
The prosecutor filed the motion to rescind Carney’s bond in his four pending criminal cases in Douglas County on Friday — two days before Carney and Officer Michael Mosher died in the shooting.
In her filing, the assistant district attorney, Eve Kemple, said Carney had a history of “violent and erratic” behavior, The Lawrence Journal-World reported. The charges in Douglas County included battery of a law enforcement officer, court records show.
“That the defendant is capable of violence is demonstrated by his own repeated behaviors and is reflected in the criminal charges he is facing,” Kemple wrote.
In January, Carney was charged with burglaries at a Lawrence cigar shop. He also was accused of battery and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer during his arrests, according to court documents.
Carney, of Overland Park, was also being charged with making a criminal threat after he was heard menacing a victim with violence April 28, Kemple wrote in her motion.
The prosecutor also noted Carney’s past convictions for misdemeanor battery, domestic battery and assault. His convictions included past crimes in Johnson County.
In February, two of Carney’s relatives asked a judge to not release him from jail, saying he made threats against family members that included threatening to kill a relative and slashing the tires of family members’ vehicles, the Journal-World reported.
“He has upped his game as far as threats go,” the relatives’ letter said, which noted Carney struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. “He needs help for his addictions and we believe he will only get that help if he is in jail. We do not think it is in our best interest for him to be out since his threats get more and more violent.”
Also in February, Carney, a self-employed ballroom dance instructor, was charged with tampering with his electronic monitoring device from previous cases. He was remanded to the county jail on $290,000 bond. He was released Feb. 20 after posting it.
The shootout Sunday unfolded after 5:50 p.m. in the 8300 block of West 123rd Street in Overland Park.
Prior to the shooting, Mosher radioed to dispatch about a hit-and-run crash in the area, according to Overland Park Police Department. Mosher approached the suspect’s vehicle and an altercation occurred. The two exchanged gunfire.
Carney died at the scene; Mosher, 37, died at a hospital.
On Tuesday, police said any donations made to the department will be directed to the Overland Park Police Officer’s Foundation, a charitable nonprofit organization, at the request of Mosher’s wife.
In a news release about a memorial fund created in Mosher’s name, the department’s union said it was mourning the loss of a “truly heroic officer.” Mosher served as its president.
“His caring heart, kind soul and and selfless sacrifice will never be forgotten,” the organization wrote. “Our hearts are broken.”
Anyone wishing to donate to the officer’s foundation can do so at www.oppof.org under the option Mike Mosher Memorial Fund.
A friend of the Mosher family has also set up a GoFundMe fundraiser online. Donations will go to Mosher’s wife for “any and all family related expenses.” As of Tuesday afternoon, nearly 500 people had donated more than $33,000.
A Johnson County team that probes officer-involved shootings continues to investigate.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 5:04 PM.
