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Two high profile cases in the space of a week have focused debate on the question of how fast – and when – police officers should engage in car chases.
Two people including a toddler were killed in New Orleans last Wednesday when an SUV being chased by state troopers struck a truck. The driver of the vehicle fatally shot himself immediately afterward.
In Jefferson Parish deputies attempted to stop a car and during that pursuit a patrol unit struck a vehicle that was not involved. In that case the driver of the vehicle struck suffered no injuries but the deputy had injuries that were minor. In that case the car being purused – which was never caught – was reported stolen. In the New Orleans case, pursuit was initiated because the car had stolen plates. No other information was released.
Locally, pursuits or high-speed responses to calls have resulted in wrecks.
But Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter says his officers have strict rules to follow on the road, for both call responses and initiation of pursuits.
“It doesn’t make sense to try to get somewhere and help somebody if you kill yourself or someone else,” said Larpenter, whose reasons for recently firing two deputies included resonse to a domestic dispute involving a gun at speeds exceeding 100 mph.
Larpenter acknowledged that the decision to pursue or not pursue in relation to car stops occurs on a case-by-case basis, because there can be so many variables out in the field. But generally, he said, the decision to give chase must be based on a perception that the threat to the public safety through not apprehending someone immediately outweighs the risks related to patrol cars and pursued vehicles using risky measures.
During most situations where deputies give chase, Larpenter said, supervisors are monitoring the speed, location and conditions.
Additional issues occur when officers from other jurisdictions or departments are involved in a pursuit. In cases involving Lafourche Parish deputies and city police, Terrebonne deputies will assist but only to a degree, Larpenter said. In those cases the Terrebonne deputies do not continue past the parish lines.
Lafourche Parish Craig Webre announced last month the arrest of a woman from Houma by his deputies after a multi-parish chase.
Autumn Picou, 32, of Houma was allegedly traveling at a high rate of speed at around 11:30 a.m. June 15, on the shoulder of U.S. 90 exit onto La. 182. She passed several cars including an unmarked deputy’s vehicle.
“Deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver of the vehicle ignored deputies and continued westbound on LA 182, driving erratically and reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour,” Webre said. “The driver turned onto LA 3087, and later turned onto LA 316, crossing into Terrebonne Parish where Louisiana State Police joined the pursuit.”
Troopers deployed spike strips at LA 316 and Company Canal Road, but the driver avoided them and continued southbound. At the intersection of LA 316 and LA 24, the driver ignored a red light, and the car struck an SUV. There were no injuries in the crash. The car did not stop at the crash, and it continued southbound onto LA 24 and then on to LA 55. The driver eventually stopped the car in the 800 block of LA 55 and jumped into Bayou Terrebonne in an attempt to flee from deputies, but she was apprehended shortly thereafter.
After her arrest Picou exhibited signs of being under the influence of drugs. She was allegedly found to have suboxone, oxycodone, and other pills in her possession.
Webre said she was booked with Aggravated Flight from an Officer, DWI, Reckless Operation, Simple Escape, and Possession of Suboxone, Oxycodone, and a Legend Drug, with bond set at $59,000.
Most local officials did not wish to discuss their specific policies on pursuits, noting that they did not want criminals to second-guess the potential that they might not be chased. But in general, department officials said various factors contribute to the formula.
In the case of Picou, officials agreed it is possible that initial reckless driving could have posed enough of a threat to justify the chase.
In more and more cases, however, law enforcement officials say they are using technology to their advantage. On several recent occasions in Terrebonne deputies have noted the tag number and later showed up at the place where the vehicle is registered. •
