In a recently concluded manhunt, the Calistoga Police Department, in collaboration with multiple agencies, has brought an end to a harrowing kidnapping incident. The suspect, identified as Thomas Howard Phillips, a sixty-year-old male, was apprehended with the victim found safe inside the vehicle. Details disclosed by the Calistoga Police Department reveal that Phillips is facing serious allegations including Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Kidnapping, and False Imprisonment. The coordinated effort in tracking down Phillips was possible due to the collaboration between the Calistoga Police Department, Butte County Sheriff’s Office, and the DA's offices of Butte and Napa counties.
The investigation took a turn when deputies located the suspect's phone's last known signal in Butte County, leading to his capture north of Oroville. Both the suspect and the victim are being interviewed to provide insight into the motives and context of the kidnapping.
The alert for public assistance was initially raised following an incident on Lincoln Avenue, as reported by Hoodline. A witness observed a female being struck and forcibly taken into a maroon 2014 Honda Accord, identified with the California license plate 7JBZ430, distinguishing it with a black front bumper. This plea for help precipitated the swift investigation, which led to the dramatic capture of Phillips.
The victim was described as a heavyset white female, around 40 years of age, who, at the time of abduction, was wearing a purple sweatshirt and black leggings. The suspect, once described as a white male in his 40s with shoulder-length gray hair, was seen wearing a green shirt and black pants. They were last seen heading north on Highway 29 from Silverado Trail and were later sighted by an ALPR on Highway 20 near Williams. The suspect had also checked into a nearby hotel under the name “Thomas Phillips,” although at the time, a clear identification had not been made.
In expressing gratitude for those who contributed to the successful resolution of this case, the Calistoga Police Department publicly thanked the involved agencies and the community. Those with any further information about this incident are encouraged to still contact Officer C. Townsend at the Calistoga Police Department at (707) 942-2810, referencing case #25-0229.
