Report details hit-and-run crash before Overland Park police officer died in shootout
The man who killed Overland Park police officer Mike Mosher in a shootout earlier this month had just fled from a collision where he rear-ended a car stopped at a red light, according to a recently released police report.
Overland Park police released the report Monday after The Star requested the document under the Kansas Open Records Act.
The report details the investigation of a May 3 hit-and-run crash at 123rd Street and Antioch Road that police say Mosher was reacting to when he pursued a suspect, later identified as Phillip Michael Carney, 38, of Overland Park. The confrontation between Mosher and Carney led to a shootout that left both men dead, according to the Overland Park Police Department.
Last week, the city held three days of memorial events for Mosher, a decorated, 14 1/2-year veteran of the force who was the first officer killed in Overland Park since Officer Deanna Rose was slain in January 1985.
According to the police investigation, a 28-year-old Overland Park man told officers that about 5:45 p.m. on the day of the shooting he was driving a Kia Optima and was stopped at a red traffic light at Antioch Road, preparing to continue west on 123rd Street.
Thats when he was rear-ended by a black 2010 Honda Accord, which police would later say was driven by Carney.
After the crash, the driver of the Optima crossed Antioch and pulled over. He was not injured. Carney did not follow, and after a few minutes, left the scene east on 123rd Street.
A witness told police that she saw the crash. She had been headed west on 123rd Street when an older sedan passed her at high speed on her left side near Hemlock Street. Traffic in that area is limited to a single lane in each direction. The sedan continued west on 123rd and then crashed into the Optima.
At no time did Carney get out of his vehicle and attempt to exchange information or check on injuries, the driver and witness said.
The witness told police that after the crash, Carney appeared to attempt to get his car moving, eventually reversing it eastbound on 123rd Street. Carney left behind his bumper on the side of the road.
The witness told police that she remained with the driver of the car that was rear-ended. A few minutes later, she heard gunshots.
The shooting
Mosher was on his way to work when he became aware of the hit-and-run crash, according to police.
A recording of Mosher telling dispatch about the wreck was captured in radio traffic obtained through Broadcastify.com.
Mosher asked for a police car to be sent to the area. Moments later asked that the call be upgraded because he had the suspect stopped and believed he was intoxicated.
The confrontation unfolded not far from the scene of the crash, in the 8300 block of West 123rd,
“He’s got out of his car and confronted me,” Mosher told dispatch. “Refuses to get back into the car.”
Mosher said he needed additional units. The shooting happened moments later.
Carney died at the scene. Mosher was rushed to a hospital, where he died about 45 minutes later.
The officer investigating the hit-and-run crash identified the suspect driver as Carney. The Missouri license plate displayed on the Accord was valid through June 20 to a Toyota SOL owned by Carney. A check of the vehicle identification number of the Accord returned an expired Kansas temporary tag owned by Carney.
Gun violence will be the subject of a new, statewide journalism project The Star is undertaking in Missouri this year in partnership with the national service program Report for America.
As part of this project, The Star will seek the community’s help. To contribute, visit Report for America online at reportforamerica.org.
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 1:40 PM.
