23% of All Charlotte Police Chases Result In Collisions

Charlotte Observer/ Paper Trail-----

CMPD: One in four pursuits leads to wreck

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police released an internal review of 2004-2008 pursuits that shows the overwhelming majority were justified and 23 percent resulted in a collision.

The review came after Councilman Michael Barnes requested an update during a May 26 meeting. Barnes questioned an incident where Concord police were involved in a pursuit that started in Concord, but resulted in a fatal collision in Charlotte between the suspect and another vehicle.

The report says that in the past 5 years there have been 18 pursuits where another law enforcement agency pursued into CMPD jurisdiction.

These pursuits ended in the following manner: in 6 cases, the suspect fled on foot; in 4 cases, a tire deflation device stopped the suspect; in 4 cases, the suspect stopped voluntarily; in 3 cases, the suspect crashed the vehicle; and in 1 case, the suspect crashed and caused a death.

During that time period, CMPD has had 220 pursuits.

The review shows that of the Charlotte pursuits:

- In 24% the subject eluded the police officer on foot; in 23% of the pursuits the subject vehicle was involved in a collision; in 13% the subject eluded the officer with the vehicle; in 13% the subject stopped voluntarily; in 12% the officer terminated the pursuit; in 9% a police supervisor terminated the pursuit; in 4% a tire deflation device was used to stop a pursuit; and in 1% of the pursuits, the officer was involved in a collision.

The report shows in the last five years, overwhelming percentages (90.5%) of pursuits were justified.



Charlotte City Councilman Michael Barnes states Concord Police were wrong to chase suspect that killed Elderly, African-American woman.

Charlotte City Councilman Michael Barnes criticized the Concord Police Department this week, saying officers were wrong to take part in a car chase that led to the death of an 84-woman and injuries to six others.

Two officers pursued a shoplifting suspect three miles from Concord Mills mall into Charlotte on Friday, police said. Authorities say the suspect, Demetrio Jaunt Rollins, 18, was fleeing in a Buick LeSabre when the car crossed the center line on Mallard Creek Road and crashed head-on with car driven by Docia Barber. Barber, 84, died at the scene.

During Tuesday's City Council meeting, Barnes said Charlotte-Mecklenburg police would not participate in car chase for such a minor offense. "She died over a pair of shoes," Barnes said, referring to the alleged shoplifting. "That should have never happened."

It says, part: "Officers are authorized to engage and continue in a Pursuit only when they have reasonable suspicion to believe the driver or occupant has committed or is attempting to commit a crime dangerous to life, or when officers can articulate the exigent need to apprehend the suspect(s) because of the potential for harm to the public (Public Risk) if they are not apprehended. Officers must always weigh the need to apprehend the suspect(s) against the danger created by the pursuit (Pursuit Risk). The danger created by the flight of the suspect can not constitute justification for the pursuit."

Concord Police Chief Merl Hamilton has defended the two officers who chased Rollins in separate vehicles. The department is looking into whether the officers actions violated its rules.

It includes this explanation: "When an officer attempts to execute a motor vehicle stop, there is a point in time when it becomes apparent that the violator is either going to stop or attempt to elude arrest. This point in time is defined as the point in which a reasonable person would know that he/she is being ordered to pull over through the use of the blue lights and siren. When the officer makes the determination that the suspect vehicle is not going to stop, the officer must ensure that the violator has committed a felony or is in the process of committing a felony by immediately meeting the criteria required for the charge of Felony Speeding to Elude Arrest G.S. 20-141.5 or any other felony charge.

If the felony is present, the officer must obtain permission from a supervisor to continue. If a felony does not exist or the supervisor does not give permission to continue, the officer must discontinue the pursuit by turning off all emergency equipment and reducing speed."



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Sources: Charlotte Observer, Paper Trail, Charlotte Police Dept., Concord Police Dept., Charmeck.org, Cedar Post & Barbed Wire Fences, Google Maps