Tribes issue statement on truck stop assault in Fort Hall
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The following is a news release from the Shoshone Bannock Tribes.
FORT HALL — A reported assault is currently under investigation by the Fort Hall Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations of truck driver Amos Phillips, who was assaulted by an unidentified suspect in the north parking lot area of the TP Gas Station in Fort Hall.
The TP Gas station falls under the authority of the Tribal Enterprise.
“We would like to express how unfortunate it is that this type of incident can happen anywhere and were especially saddened that this happened on our property involving a very valued customer. We continue to pray for his health, well being and justice for such a senseless act of violence,” TP Retail Operations Manager Carlie Jim said. “TP Gas Security and Management immediately responded by assisting our Fort Hall Police department with statements and surveillance footage on file. After turning the incident over to the proper authorities, we have not been informed to the medical status of Mr. Phillips or the status of the investigation.”
Police reports show at 3 a.m. on Sept. 3, Fort Hall officers were dispatched to TP Gas Station to respond to the incident regarding Amos Phillips of Missouri, who had been physically assaulted in his truck. Phillips’ face was swollen, bruised and had a cut on his left ear. Emergency Medical Services were called to the location and Phillips was transported to Portneuf Medical Center for his injuries.
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“The FHPD officers collected a baseball cap left behind at the scene from the suspect and it was sent to the Idaho State Lab for DNA testing. Our police records indicated the fingerprints were smudged,” Fort Hall Police Chief Pat Teton said. “The video was collected from TP Gas Station; however, it was of poor quality and neither age or race of the suspect could be determined from the video. Police officers also checked with Fort Hall Casino on any other video footage of the incident but they were unable to locate any. In addition, there were no witnesses to the incident that have been located at this time.”
This is the first time an incident of this type occurred at any of the Tribal gas stations on the Fort Hall Reservation and the Tribes along with the Fort Hall Casino and Tribal Enterprises are taking preventative actions so it does not occur again in the future.
This would include improved lighting, surveillance and security in all areas that service all customers stopping to fuel and for the truckers resting at TP Gas Station. Jim said, “Safety is a top priority and we will always do what we can to improve our customer safety.”
The case is currently under investigation and no other details can be provided at this time.