Aug 11, 2014 3 min read

The girlfriend of the West Middletown man accused of assaulting her as they drove in Independence Township earlier this month is also facing charges for allegedly lying to McDonald police as they tried to take him into custody.

Stacey A. Phillips, 46, of 64 E. Main St., West Middletown, will be charged by McDonald police with obstructing the administration of law and hindering apprehension.

Police went to 64 E. Main the day after the alleged assault in an attempt to apprehend Richard Brown, 49, also of 64 E. Main, on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment. Brown was accused of punching Phillips in the head and choking her as they drove near the intersection of Scenic Drive and Route 844. Phillips was able to get out of the vehicle and run when he pulled into a parking lot, police said. Brown started to run after her but then left the parking lot before officers arrived, according to police.

When police went to the home Aug. 4, they knocked on the door but got no answer.

Two vehicles were parked in front of the home, and the hood of the pickup truck was extremely warm, indicating it had just been driven, police said.

Police again knocked on the door and got no answer. Two witnesses told police they had seen Brown go inside his home about 15 minutes before the officers arrived.

Police called Phillips on her cellphone. The officer asked Phillips if she was home, and she allegedly told him that she was at a friend’s home in Bethel Park. When police told her they were at her West Middletown home looking for Brown, Phillips reportedly told them, “No, I’m not there. I don’t know where he is.”

Another officer called Phillips in an attempt to locate Brown. When asked if she could help police find him, she allegedly responded “I don’t know where he is. I will never help you. I will never help the police.”

Police said Brown came out of his home a few minutes later, was placed under arrest and told officers that he was alone in the home. After police received consent to search the residence, they said they entered and found Phillips inside, standing behind the door. When asked why she lied about Brown’s whereabouts, Phillips reportedly told police that she did not want him to get in trouble.

Phillips, at the time of the alleged assault, reportedly told police the two had been in a relationship for five years and that she had recently dropped a protection-from-abuse order she had against him.

Brown, who is free from Washington County jail after posting $10,000 bond, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 18 before District Judge Ethan Ward. Charges against Phillips will be sent by summons from Ward’s office.