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Judge: Suspect Competent To Stand Trial For Police Chase, Death Threat

A Century man that led police on a vehicle chase and then threatened to kill a deputy has been found competent to stand trial.

An Escambia County Circuit Court judge ordered a psychological evaluation of  Christopher Angelo Phifer, 38, of Field Road Century earlier this year and committed Phifer to a state institution. Following another psychological evaluation, Judge Joel Boles has ruled Phifer competent and set a December trial date.

Phifer was charged with  with DUI, fleeing/eluding a law enforcement officer, registration/tag expired more than six months, driving while license suspended/revoked, threatening a public servant, two counts of resisting arrest, possession of weapon by a convicted felon and violation of probation. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.

According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department report, Deputy James Gilman spotted a Jeep Cherokee occupied by Phifer at McMurray Park in Century at 12:20 am September 6, 2009. When Gilman ordered Phifer to exit the vehicle, Phifer took off in the Jeep, according to the report.

Deputy Gilman gave chase, using his lights and siren as he pursued Phifer down Pond Street, onto Jefferson Street and onto Salters Lake Road. On Salters Lake Road, Phifer hit a washed out area in the road, according to the report, causing his vehicle to roll over. Phifer fled into a wooded area on foot, with Gilman giving chase, also on foot. Gilman tackled Phifer, the report says, and arrested Phifer with the help of deputies Jason Land and Scott Rivkin.

About 10 minutes after Phifer was placed in the back of Gilman’s patrol car, he told deputies he had pain in his arm. Atmore Ambulance was called to the scene, and Phifer was transported to Baptist Hospital where he was treated and released.

A search of Phifer’s Jeep turned up a .22 long rifle cartridge on the driver’s side floorboard.

At the hospital, Phifer told the deputy “Gilman I’m going to kill your a** and you know I have guns,” according to the ECSO report on the incident, and that he intended to kill or put a hit out on Gilman.