Wanted Marokopa dad still on the run two weeks after court no-show
Wednesday, 26 January 2022
A wanted King Country dad still hasn’t been found after his no-show two weeks ago at court on a charge of wasting police time.
Thomas Phillips, 34, was due to appear in the Te Kūiti District Court at 11am on January 12 on a single charge of causing wasteful deployment of police personnel and resources in relation to a large-scale search for him and his three children, Jayda Jin, Maverick and Ember, in September.
Failing to appear, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
A police spokesperson told Stuff on Wednesday he still hadn’t been located two weeks on.
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* Marokopa dad Thomas Phillips a no-show in court on charge of wasting police time
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“Police continue to make inquiries into Mr Phillips whereabouts, however he has not been located at this stage,” the spokesperson said.
Waikato west area commander Inspector Will Loughrin earlier told Stuff police believed Phillips was with his three children.
He said police were receiving useful information from members of public who, after the events of September, were aware of both what Phillips and his children look like.
“While police understand the ongoing interest in this matter, we will not be disclosing the details of the enquiries that are under way.”
Last year, grave concerns were raised for the welfare of Phillips and his children after his 4WD vehicle was found abandoned below the tideline on Kiritehere Beach on September 11.
The family reappeared, safe, 18 days later.
The family of four survived in a tent in the dense bush, about 15 kilometres away from the coast. They were not spotted despite an extensive search including search and rescue teams, community volunteers, heat-detecting drones, a helicopter, and jet skis.
Phillips went bush with his children for a second time in December, prompting police monitoring but not a search.
The police charge against Phillips states that between September 11 and September 30, 2021, “being reckless as to whether wasteful deployment of police resources would result, behaved in a manner that was likely to give rise to serious apprehension for the safety of himself, Jayda Phillips, Ember Phillips and Maverick Phillips, knowing that such apprehension would be groundless.”
The charge comes with a maximum penalty of three months in prison or a fine of up to $2000.