The impaired driving case of Fruitland Police Chief Michael Phillips
will go to trial Monday, said defense attorney John Phoebus.
"We're looking forward to our day in court," Phoebus said Wednesday.
Phillips,
48, of Salisbury faces charges of driving while under the influence of
alcohol and driving while impaired by alcohol, along with a charge of
following vehicle too closely.
A Somerset County sheriff's deputy
stopped Phillips' personal vehicle at about 10:25 p.m. June 29 on
northbound Route 13 at Somerset Avenue outside Princess Anne, online
court records state.
Phillips' trial is scheduled for 9 a.m.
Monday. The case is in District Court in Princess Anne, which means it
will be a judge trial –– not a jury trial.
A special prosecutor
has been assigned to the case: Jonathan Naylor, traffic safety resource
prosecutor with the Maryland State's Attorneys Association in Ellicott
City. A petition to appoint special counsel from Somerset County Deputy
State's Attorney Edmund Widdowson was made since Phillips is Fruitland's
police chief and a retired Maryland State Police trooper who worked in
Somerset County.
Naylor said Thursday he would not be able to speak about facts of the case prior to a trial.
Phoebus
wrote in a statement June 30 that Phillips asked to be placed on paid
administrative leave until the case is resolved, and the Fruitland City
Council agreed. He wrote this wasn't an admission of guilt by Phillips,
but what would be standard procedure for any Fruitland officer.
Fruitland
City Manager John Psota wrote in an emailed statement July 1 there
would not be an interim chief taking Phillips' place during the paid
administrative leave.
Phoebus said Wednesday that he was not in a position to say whether Phillips would or would not testify at the trial.