Posted on 05/10/2007 9:00:33 AM PDT by E Rocc
Cleveland Heights Man Killed After Police Chase Called Off
POSTED: 6:55 am EDT May 10, 2007
UPDATED: 11:31 am EDT May 10, 2007
CLEVELAND -- An innocent driver is dead and three suspects are in the hospital after a police chase came to a violent end Wednesday evening.
The victim was John J. Rankins, 45, of Cleveland Heights.
It happened at about 8:15 p.m., Sixth District police officers, vice and community service unit cars as well as an ATF agent were on gun suppression detail, an initiative to get guns off the streets.
The law enforcement agents spotted a silver minivan that fit the profile of a vehicle with weapons.
When officials tried to pull over the vehicle, the driver sped off. The driver has been identified as Lawrence Ray, 30. He remains in Huron Road Hospital.
About a minute into the chase, a supervisor called of the pursuit and two minutes later the minivan crashed with a sport utility vehicle at East 105th Street and Chester Avenue, killing the driver.
Police said after the crash they found a loaded gun and what they believe to be heroin inside the suspect's minivan.
One of the people taken to the hospital was placed under arrest
-Eric
If the cops want you to pull you over, you pull over.
If it turns out that they had zero justification, sue them.
Well, lookie there...they found exactly what they were looking for!
*cough* plant *cough*
Sounds more like it fit the writer's fantasies...
Are you *certain* of that? What if the guy has an arrest record as long as your arm? Would the gun or the drugs *still* be a plant?
the old dave chappell routine...sprinkle some crack on ‘em....
No kidding. ATF isn’t above planting evidence, as we all know.
My husband - lightingguy above - shared an office (just the two of them in it) with the man who was killed. He was on his way home from dropping his cats off at a friend’s house because he was flying to Nebraska to visit family today and got plowed into.
The driver of the minivan had a prior record for - guess what - vehicular manslaughter and aggravated vehicular assault. I highly doubt it was a police plant.
Here’s an article with more info - http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=3160507&version=10&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1
Fatal Fleeing From Police: Motorist has Record
Last Edited: Thursday, 10 May 2007, 11:44 AM EDT
Created: Wednesday, 09 May 2007, 9:30 PM EDT
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CLEVELAND — A motorist who served time in prison for aggravated vehicular homicide flees from police causing a four-car fatal crash.
Cleveland Police Lt. Thomas Stacho tells Fox 8’s Stacey Frey that the suspect behind the wheel was Lawrence l. Ray.
According to Stacho, Ray was driving with a suspended license when the fleeing incident occurred Wednesday and served time for aggravated vehicular homicide & vehicular assault for a similar fleeing incident in 1998.
Ray is currently confined at Huron Hospital with a broken leg & pelvis.
Stacho tells Fox 8 that the victim, 45-year-old John J. Rankin from Cleveland Heights, was transported to University Hospital following the accident where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Stacho explains that Cleveland’s 6th District Vice Unit was on gun suppression detail around 8:25 p.m. Wednesday when they spotted what was determined to be a suspicious minivan.
As officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, Ray fled, which began a police chase.
Stacho says that officers followed Ray for 90 seconds before backing off due to dangerous speeds.
Ray continued speeding away from authorities and, a short time later, slammed into a Jeep Cherokee at the corner of East 105th Street and Chester Avenue.
Two other cars were struck in the violent crash.
Rankin, who was driving the Jeep, was cut from his vehicle before being transported to the hospital where he died due to blunt-force trauma injuries.
Ray also had to be cut from his vehicle. Police found a handgun and heroin in his possession.
Two other individuals were in the minivan with Ray at the time of the crash. Both were transported to local hospitals.
Officials with Cleveland EMS tell Fox 8 News that six people in total were transported to area hospitals following the accident.
Charges are expected to be filed against the driver of the minivan and his two passengers as soon as Thursday.
Thank you.
Perhaps the idiot reporter meant to write "fit the DESCRIPTION" of a vehicle with weapons. Perhaps the officers had a tip on the perp.
If the cops turn on the lights...pull over. If you don’t, it’s your own damn fault if they pull out a bazooka and blow your head off.
Does anyone else find it odd how precisely the times are given by the police? First the chase lasted a minute, then 90 seconds. The time for the crash varies, also. Makes ya go “hmmmm”:.
My sympathies to your DH.
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MS13 fits the profile.
Bloods fit the profile.
Cripts fit the profile.
This is a nationwide bust down street gangs and “gangstas”.
If they are truely profiling, I say good. A good cop knows how to profile. If he’s allowed to.
I think in this case, gun suppression is really gang suppression. And I’m all for that.
They start going after Joe Sixpack though, and things will change post haste.
Is this info from the American Academy of Criminal Defense Lawyers? Or is it the result of a poll of the guests at Angola State Prison?
The guy had a PRISON record for the exact same thing - aggravated vehicular homicide in 1998.
Wow they should go check out the local Grocery store parking lot *many* will fit the description there..
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I smell a “snowflake” scenario...
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