Wanted Man Leads Police on Car Chase Through Santa Rita Neighborhood

 

A man was arrested late Saturday night at around 11:30 p.m. after leading San Angelo police on a car chase through the Santa Rita neighborhood.

According to police, police knew the driver of an older model red Chevrolet pickup to be wanted for felony state warrants and county warrants. “He realized we were behind him,” Sgt. Scott Adams said of the police cruiser trailing the suspect northbound on S. Bryant Blvd.

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When the driver of the pickup failed to yield the right-of-way to turn west on Ave. J, police said that it almost caused a wreck. The patrol officer trailing him turned on his lights and sirens to pull the suspect over. Police said instead of pulling over, a chase ensued and continued for several blocks through Santa Rita. Then the suspect stopped the truck in the middle of the roadway on Ave. K between David and Austin Streets, and then abandoned an adult female in the passenger seat to flee on foot.

Police surrounded the area in a perimeter search and called K9. But before the dog arrived, they had already found the suspect and apprehended him.

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In addition to evading arrest in a vehicle and on foot, and the suspect’s outstanding warrants, police found marijuana he threw away when fleeing on foot. Adams said that 8-10 police units were used in the chase, search and apprehension. No one was injured and the suspect is booked into the Tom Green County Jail.

The female passenger was not charged and let go.

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My daughter went with her friends trick or treating on Austin St last night in that same area and I picked her up about 9:30 and the streets were still filled with kids and cars. So I hope that everyone was home by this time and that whatever this guy had warrants for was worth chasing him through those neighborhood streets at the risk of bystanders. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what the police do however, I think these high speed chases are often more dangerous to the general public. A friend of mine's father was killed several years ago in Robert Lee due to a high speed chase, he was at work...and in the building when the car the police were chasing came crashing or flying rather into the building-now imagine that being someone's house. So like I said I hope the risk of these truly outweighs the potential cost.

Mr. Skulking, at 11:30, I seriously doubt any innocent young children were out trick or treating. But you know what, you're right, the police should never chase anyone. We should just ban all chases, because the cost might not be worth the risk. While it's unfortunate that anyone should lose a loved one due to the actions of a CRIMINAL, lets put the responsibility where it belongs, on the CRIMINAL who is RUNNING FROM THE POLICE, and not the cops who are working hard to put a bad guy behind bars, so that you can live your peaceful life without having to deal with all that icky "crime" that's going on out there.....

Dr. Soong: I completely agree...blame should be placed on the criminals-but if we look at this from the point of view of "whose the adult in this situation?" (metaphorically speaking of course) I think we all can agree that the police are are ones who will ultimately shoulder the brunt of the responsibility here when something goes wrong...and it will I'm afraid. After all, the people running from the cops are apparently "responsibility challenged" ...i.e. the whole running from the police to begin with. So whose responsibility is it to protect the citizens? yes getting scumbags off the streets is part of that, however like I said earlier at what cost? because we all know many of these chases big in...Over minor drug charges, or stolen property, or the dreaded city warrants but then again....that is Municipal Court so I kinda sympathize there...
Ms. Skulking

No ANY child voluntarily roaming the streets at 11:30 at night is probably not doing so innocently...their most likely working on apprenticeships....in being "responsibility challenged"
Ms. Skulking

Mr. Skulking,
Due to the fact that you recognized I am a Doctor without being told, I will give you a sincere apology for my earlier response, which was too brusque when addressing such a cultured individual such as yourself. Live long and prosper. :)

Understand my problem is not with you, but rather with the recently popularized idea that the police not chasing a criminal has some kind of merit. I understand where you are coming from, and it is true you can not ignore the influences of the relentless assault by trial lawyers and others screaming for someone to take responsibility, since, as you noted, the criminal obviously will not.

There are several problems faced by the police, namely, that the police are knowingly allowing a criminal to violate the law (fleeing) in a most flagrant fashion, in the interest of a perceived public good. But what if this were extended to other crimes? Do police ignore a "man with a gun" call, because he may shoot someone? Or should the police not respond to the domestic violence victim's call for help, because the attacker may retaliate in the future? Not chasing a criminal is saying that running from the police is just a cool thing to do, and hey, everybody should try it.

The obvious first question, "why are the police chasing this criminal?" appears valid on its face, but the more appropriate question is, "why is this criminal running?" A normal person, a "Mr Skulking", or a Doctor, or Mr Hyde, would not flee headlong when confronted with police presence. While flight from the police may be the first thing a criminal thinks of, there is a reason for this. It is because the CRIMINAL is engaged in a CRIME, otherwise, there would be no reason to run! So it doesn't matter so much why the police are chasing the criminal - it does indeed matter why the criminal is running. And I would surmise that, some times, the police don't even know why the criminal is running. That's why they have to chase them - because there may be some one with just a suspended license, there may be stolen property, a person with warrants, a wanted murderer, or a kidnapping victim in the trunk. But rest assured, the criminal is not fleeing simply to engage in the act of fleeing.

Finally - what if the police do stop chasing people, or for instance, say, the police will not chase you for crime XYZ, because it is not worth chasing criminals? What if the police say, the risk is too great? This turns the entire justice system on it's head. To allow a criminal to commit an offense just because they act out in an unsafe manner is to condone the act its self. It reinforces the behavior and encourages rather than discourages it.

So I end with my original argument, put the responsibility where it belongs - on the CRIMINAL who is committing the CRIME. We know the criminal will not willingly take responsiblity, but let the cops catch him, so then, hopefully, the criminal can be used as an example to others - don't run, and the mean old police will not have to chase you. An interesting concept.

Thank you Dr. Soong, for noticing my attention to detail, though I can't imagine anyone not recognizing that distinction and honoring you with the proper salutation!. :)
You are correct in what you say, I find that this is a paradox in a way. Like the chicken and the egg. Criminals commit a crime, run from cops, more charges added, failure to comply with court, probation, or continuing with the behavior that originally began the fiasco and so it repeats. My biggest issue with cops NOT pursuing is that criminals will know they can run and get away with it so of coarse they will etc...kind of like the Fegurguson situation that's led to the police being fearful or apprehensive to...well....do "their job" because of the possible repercussions so the crime rates in these cities are progressively and significantly increasing. Their job is one of inherent danger and we defer to them to make the best possible decision under the given circumstances. do they always make the right call? of coarse not, who does in their professional or personal lives? No one. However, unlike the police, most of our decisions aren't held hostage by that nasty little bugger known as "life or death" And the only possible defense is that little friend we all have, the one that lives in your gut and screams hey moron danger! "fight or flight!" (unless you don't have that friend, so you just "freeze" I shutter at the thought.)
Point is, we expect the police to react quickly under the most dire of circumstances and just before they OD on their own adrenaline, we not only want them to make a decision, but make the right, best, (God-like if you will) decision "inhumanly" possible.
One possible solution (and perhaps this is what you meant by holding them responsible) is accountability through meaningful consequences
I am unsure how the law reads but these runners should face manslaughter or attempted manslaughter charges should people get hurt because they fled and cops were forced to pursue. Now that may already be the case, I don't know. But, what I do know, is that if its not, it should be. And on that Doctor, even you must agree that, my logic is irrefutable.....Ms. Skulking

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