Man charged in killing of Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips pleads not guilty

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (Oct. 28) — The man charged with killing Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Warren Circuit Court.

Emonnie Dion Branch, 51, of Portland, Tennessee, is charged with murder of a first responder, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and tampering with physical evidence. Public defenders from the Department of Public Advocacy entered the plea on his behalf, the Bowling Green Daily News reported. Branch spoke only to tell Judge J.B. Hines that he understood his rights and wanted an appointed attorney.

Murder of a first responder is a capital offense in Kentucky, punishable by death or life in prison without parole, WKU Public Radio reported. Prosecutors have not said whether they will seek the death penalty.

Phillips, 28, was shot Sept. 28 after stopping a car with an expired temporary tag on northbound Interstate 65 in Warren County, according to court records cited by the Daily News. A criminal complaint says two shots were fired from the car before the driver merged back into traffic, and the encounter was recorded by the trooper's in-car camera. Branch was arrested in Louisville after an hours-long manhunt, WLKY reported.

Hines granted a defense request ordering that all physical evidence in the state's custody be preserved, and he set a status conference on the exchange of evidence for Feb. 12. Branch, who appeared in a wheelchair at an earlier hearing, walked and stood on his own Tuesday, WLKY reported. He remains jailed without bond.

Members of Phillips' family and fellow officers watched from the courtroom. Phillips was assigned to KSP Post 3 in Bowling Green and previously served with the Glasgow Police Department. He left behind a wife and three sons, WLKY reported.