Yahoo Autos Ohio Troopers Struggle To Stop Fleeing Toyota RAV4
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There’s plenty of controversy out there when it comes to the different methods employed by various law enforcement agencies in pursuits. For some departments, they’re not allowed to keep chasing if a suspect drives too recklessly. Others get to PIT vehicles that are traveling over 100 mph. And there are many departments somewhere in the middle. One of those is Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Tennis court fencing traps a fleeing car.
As you can see in footage of a chase involving a suspect in a black Toyota RAV4, the restrictive policies of that agency keep troopers from ending the chase immediately. In the first minute, one could have pinned or pitted the little crossover as it turned around in a driveway, avoiding the rest of the pursuit as it put other people’s lives in danger.
Some might think this is a better way. After all, those troopers are kept on a short leash and they do finally PIT the RAV4 only after receiving authorization. Arkansas troopers can PIT whenever they feel it’s necessary, sometimes resulting in some brutal, fatal incidents.
What’s really interesting about this case is the suspect had a one-year-old in the backseat of the Toyota while he ran from troopers. The original violation was too dark of tint and no visible registration. During the pursuit, a relative called dispatch to inform Ohio State Highway Patrol of the presence of the baby in the vehicle.
The fact troopers still chased the RAV4 and ended up pitting it with the child inside, or at least the claim there was a child inside, will make some people furious. Others will be furious the guy put the kid at risk by fleeing. Again, it all goes back to perspective.
We still think it’s interesting how the chase couldn’t been over from the get-go had the one trooper already been authorized to use force to end things.
What do you think of this chase? Let us know.
Image via Ohio Bodycam/YouTube
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