After a Chattanooga police officer responded to a call about a purse snatching at the Walmart at 501 Signal Mountain Road, police say the suspect drove away, sparking a 10-minute chase up and down U.S. Highway 27.
The suspect then continued evading police on downtown Chattanooga’s streets when, according to Chattanooga police spokeswoman Sgt. Jerri Weary, police surrounded the suspect’s vehicle near Market Street and Cherokee Boulevard.
Then, a police car was hit, Weary said.
Worried that the suspect might hurt someone, police called off the pursuit, Weary said.
"Worried that the suspect might hurt someone..."
"...police fired enough shots into the car to make sure that he didn't drive away."
Why not? Five-mile 10-minute chase eluding police through crowded neighborhood? Shoot him.
A felony was committed by suspect by assaulting officer with vehicle. Chase called off.
"Worried that the suspect might hurt someone, police called off the pursuit, Weary said."
Another reason NOT to depend on "Law (authority) Enforcement for your protection.
If only it had been someone growing a pot plant; then the SWAT team and DEA would have arrived for the photo-op.
I don't like bashing the police, but I agree with harrystatel that if this had been over some marijuana, they would have called for 10 SWAT team members in full body armour and AK-47's drawn putting them in non-violent people's faces... how do I know this??? It happened to someone I know really well. Why the F would they not take this badstar out?? He was a major threat to society and could have killed anyone in his path over a dang purse which probably had $40 in it.
Wait a minute, Market Street and Cherokee Boulevard? That's right there near Coolidge Park. So the cops let the bad guy go so he can hide out in a "no gun zone" with a bunch of innocent familys there with their kids. So he had plenty of purses and pockets to pick. Maybe he's trying to catch up with the city council and EPB. They are the best pickpockets in town.
I saw this going down last night. There were 11 police cars chasing the suspect down signal mountain blvd at dayton blvd. ELEVEN police cars and they might have been going 40 mph at this point. I actually laughed. The old SUV reminded me of another well televised police chase many years ago in California.
Eleven police cars, tens of thousands of dollars in equipment, thousands of hours (and dollars)in training, and they couldn't stop one guy in an SUV.
Now you see why I take care of my own protection.
Here's what happens after the Popo luck-up and catch somebody. http://bit.ly/qyFo1W
They need something like a stop-stick that attaches a tracking beacon to a car. That way they can reasonably back off and wait to see where the suspect goes. The suspect could be watched without being scared into a high speed pursuit. There has got to be a way to attach a cell phone-like device to a moving vehicle. I bet if we made those here, then police departments around the US would buy them.
Helicopter
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