(WKYT) – Court documents revealed new details in the arrest of a man charged with shooting Trooper Hayden Phillips in Warren County.
On Monday, Sept. 28, Phillips pulled over a Honda Civic driven by 51-year-old Emonnie Branch of Portland, Tennessee, for an expired temporary tag on I-65 North, according to court documents.
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Camera footage showed Phillips approach Branch’s car and then lean into the window. Two shots were fired, and Phillips collapsed on his back.
After shooting Phillips, Branch drove away, according to court documents.
Investigators traced the temporary tag to an Alabama woman with a current address in Portland. The address also appeared to be connected to Branch.
After contacting the woman, investigators learned that the Honda belonged to Branch and also received his phone number from her, according to court documents.
Investigators ran an emergency ping on the phone number and eventually located Branch in Louisville.
The arresting officers noted that shell casings were found in the side of the Honda, according to court documents.
Branch is is charged with murder of a first responder (peace officer), possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and tampering with physical evidence, and was indicted by a Warren County grand jury on Thursday.