For the most part, this story has already faded from the collective consciousness of pop culture, but at the time, Bucky Philips was all the rage. As an intern, I was rarely allowed much access to the story, except one day I was assigned to work with the estimable T.J. Pignataro to track the now frenetic chase for Bucky in Niagara county.

So I followed police – interviewed, pestered, and even exchanged digits with officers who could clue me in on what was going on. Eventually the search was isolated around a group of fields, and locals gathered around the scene, pulling up lawn chairs, coolers of beer and more, to catch a glimpse of the helicopters, the SWAT team, and, hopefully, Bucky himself.

With all the hubbub, no one I talked to seemed scared – locals took in the spectacle, and had no fear of Philips possibly nearby. Many were more worried about the police presence, including one guy who told me “Bucky ain’t gonna hurt anyone, ‘less you got a badge.” He then grinned at me with, I kid not, at least 3 missing teeth. IT WAS AWESOME.

Anyway, Philips was not caught this day, though it was a fun and exciting assignment. And TJ let me write the hell out of the story, so it was all and all a good day.