Latest news with #highspeedchase
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
"It's a balancing act": Minnesota police manage chases while protecting drivers
WCCO Investigates is looking at safety on the roads after a recent high-speed chase through the streets of Ramsey County. Deputies reported on Saturday that a 32-year-old Brooklyn Center man driving a pick-up truck fled deputies during a traffic stop near the Hugo-Forest Lake border. The driver was clocked at speeds exceeding 100 mph, with Ramsey County deputies joining the chase on southbound Interstate 35E. Deputies released stop strips, but dashcam footage shows the suspect didn't stop or even slow down as the truck left behind a trail of sparks. The driver eventually lost control, hit a guardrail and rolled to a stop in the ditch near Interstate 694 and Snelling Avenue in Roseville. He was taken into custody, as well as his passenger, a North Branch woman, 27, who had outstanding warrants in Ramsey County, the sheriff's office said. Authorities also say a gunshot was heard near I-35E and Highway 96 during the chase, and a handgun was later spotted on the interstate in the area and recovered. "[A deputy] photographed it and recovered it — meaning more charges could be coming, just as fast as that truck and sparks were flying," the sheriff's office wrote in a Facebook post. There is no one-size-fits-all police on chases in Minnesota; each agency has its own rules of engagement when it comes to pursuits. Those protocols, however, are based on a model from the Minnesota Board of Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST), which was last updated in 2024. One provision states that an officer can start a pursuit when the risk of letting the suspect go outweighs the risk to other drivers on the road. The officer or trooper behind the wheel must also keep evaluating those risks and decide whether there's still a good chance of even catching the person they're after. "It's a balancing act, right? As law enforcement officers, we all have a duty to uphold the law, but we also have a duty in the mission of traffic safety," Captain Brian Cheney with the Minnesota Highway Patrol explained to WCCO Investigates. "Is it a controlled access roadway where there are no cross-streets and intersections? Is there less risk as opposed to a freeway in the Twin Cities, where they exit off a ramp and the first thing you come to is a busy intersection?" Across the state, police have engaged in 7,044 pursuits over the last three years, according to data from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension that was analyzed by WCCO Investigates. The top reasons for pursuits included traffic violations (56.7%), stolen vehicle (13.6%), felony (6.4%), warrant (4.2%) and DUI (4.1%). The vast majority of chases (70%) took place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., and nearly 90% of them lasted less than 10 minutes, while more than half of all pursuits in the last three years (54%) ended without an arrest of the driver. "Our complete mission is traffic safety," Cheney added. "When we really look at travel safety, that has to play into it." Data shows that 98.5% of all pursuits end without injury, but nearly a third result in some property damage, most often to the violator's car. "There is no pursuit if the person doesn't flee," Cheney quipped. "I go back to just a traffic stop. Pull over. You might get a ticket. Go on about your day just as you were before." All first responders must pass advanced driving courses for their certifications, but some police and sheriff cadets train in what's called the PIT maneuver, which involves making contact with the suspect's vehicle at a particular point to spin them out. WCCO was given special access to PIT training at The Precision Driving Center of Minnesota at St. Cloud State University. "We are not hitting vehicles out of the way. We are pushing vehicles out of the way," instructor Greg Newinski explained to WCCO Investigates. "We are pushing the back end of the vehicle to break it loose, spin it around, disable it so the person can be apprehended." A pursuit intervention technique, or PIT, can actually refer to any number of strategies to end a pursuit, including spike strips or roadblocks, but state data shows troopers choose to perform the PIT maneuver more than any other technique in a chase. "We're making contact with the car in a very soft way," Newinski insisted. "You need to have the training to do it safely. You can't just go and do this." The training includes two hours in the classroom and then six hours on the range, and while it's not exactly rocket science, there are physics involved. Newinski cautioned that the most challenging skill, however, is the ability to think critically and stay calm. "It's building that muscle memory of what to do," he said. "All our lives we're told not to make contact with other vehicles and now we're telling you to make contact with another vehicle." All police officers and sheriff's deputies must complete an advanced driving skills refresh every five years to keep their peace officer license active. Those with PIT certification will also do that with their refresher course."Stephen Swanson contributed to this report.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Motorcyclist with "WILL RUN" fake plates leads Minnesota deputies on chase, sheriff says
A southern Minnesota man is in jail after authorities say he led deputies on a high-speed chase atop an unregistered motorcycle, with fake license plates reading "WILL RUN." The Meeker County Sheriff's Office says it was alerted early Sunday evening of a motorcyclist "driving at speeds over 100 mph, back and forth" on Highway 55 through the town of Watkins, located about 25 miles southwest of St. Cloud. A deputy attempted to pull the motorcyclist over, but he fled and led them on a two-mile pursuit that ended with the suspect pulling up to a residence and fleeing on foot, the sheriff's office said. The motorcyclist, a 37-year-old Watkins man, was soon arrested and is being held in Meeker County Jail in Litchfield. Authorities say he faces several criminal charges, including fleeing an officer, driving after revocation and reckless driving.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
How a young motorbike rider's 'escape from reality' turned to tragedy in fatal police chase
An influencer has died after getting himself into a high-speed chase with police who thought he had no number plates. Bradley Wilder, 20, died on impact after losing control of his bike and falling off near Newcastle CBD, in NSW, on Saturday night. Police initially tried to intercept Mr Wilder on King Street in Hamilton at 7.30pm as his motorbike did not appear to have number plates. Instead of pulling over Mr Wilder sped off through a number of suburbs as police followed in close pursuit. Witnesses said they saw the motorbike travelling at a tremendous speed during the chase. Mr Wilder led police south along the Pacific Highway at Charlestown before he fatally hit a traffic pole five minutes into the chase and was declared dead at the scene. His cousin, Monique, said he was usually a 'safe rider' and could not figure out what would have prompted him to flee. 'Bradley was such a soft spoken, well-behaved and respectful young man towards absolutely everyone he crossed paths with,' she said. He told her that his work as a delivery driver, gym and riding his motorbike were his treasured escape from reality. She said her cousin bought his latest bike only two months ago. 'I have [sic] drove with him a few times he has ridden his bike since purchasing it. 'He has always been such a safe rider so for all this speculation and knowing him as the person he is it is definitely out of character for him. 'I'm so very heart broken, my baby cousin taken way too soon under such avoidable circumstances. 'One wrong mistake and it cost him his life, which he did not deserve at all.' Mr Wilder was also the sole carer for his ill father, Craig, who is expected to undergo a lung transplant in Sydney, after which Mr Wilder was supposed to be around to provide care. His family have since posted a number of tributes on social media remembering the 'soft spoken, well-behaved and respectful' man they knew. Police declared a critical incident following Mr Wilder's death. NSW Police Assistant Commissioner David Waddell could not confirm the speed but said Mr Wilder was 'definitely speeding'. Although police initially believed Mr Wilder's bike did not have any plates Assistant Commissioner Waddell said they were simply obscured. 'This is a tragic set of circumstances,' he said. The police officers who attended the scene were 'obviously traumatised', he added. A crime scene has since been established and a critical incident team has begun its investigation. The investigation will also be subject of an independent review by the Professional Standards Command and oversight by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. Anyone who has dashcam footage or CCTV footage or the pursuit has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Pleasant Prairie police chase into Illinois, driver arrested: video
The Brief Pleasant Prairie police arrested a driver after a high-speed chase into Illinois. Police said the driver hit multiple squads and reached speeds above 100 mph. It started with an attempted traffic stop for a stop sign violation. PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. - Pleasant Prairie police released video Friday of a high-speed chase that crossed the state line into Illinois. What started as an attempted traffic stop for a stop sign violation ended with the driver in handcuffs. What they're saying "Illinois isn't an escape route – it's just more road," the Pleasant Prairie Police Department wrote on Facebook. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android It happened on June 28. Police said the driver hit multiple squads and reached speeds above 100 mph as he tried to get away. Officers from multiple agencies made several attempts to deflate the car's tires, which ultimately helped end the pursuit. The driver then surrendered and was arrested. Police said the driver was charged with fleeing police, five counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, hit-and-run, possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia and OWI. He was also issued multiple citations. The Wisconsin State Patrol, Kenosha County Sheriff's Office, Lake County Sheriff's Office, Zion Police Department and Zion Fire-Rescue Department all assisted during the incident. The Source FOX6 News referenced video and information from the Pleasant Prairie Police Department for this story.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
San Antonio shuttle bus crash that killed 4, injured 21 has North Texas ties
As police continue to search for the suspects behind a deadly bus crash in San Antonio, new surveillance video has emerged. Investigators say the suspects were driving a car that was stolen Monday morning. The video shows two men forcing their way into a Chevrolet Camaro using a screwdriver before driving off. Officials say the stolen Camaro was later seen speeding down Interstate 35 on Thursday. It slammed into a trailer attached to a shuttle bus carrying passengers, causing the bus to lose control and collide with a semi-truck. "I don't know what goes through people's minds today, in this day in age about stealing vehicles like that and wanting to fly down the highway at such high speeds. That not only puts yourself in danger but also puts lives at risks, in which it did today," said witness Ernesto Rodriguez. Moments after the crash, four suspects were seen getting out of the Camaro and running from the scene, police said. The shuttle had departed from Fort Worth and was headed to Eagle Pass. Four passengers were killed, and 21 others were injured, including four children. The shuttle company, Transportes Guerra, is based in Fort Worth. CBS News Texas spoke with the family who runs the business and confirmed that the owner, Jose Hector Guerra — also known as "Tito" — was among those killed. He leaves behind a wife and children. "I'm praying for everybody that was involved and the family members involved, it was just a sucky thing to hear," Rodriguez said.
