Posted on 01/10/2008 6:49:51 PM PST by RDTF
PINEVILLE, Ky. - Two teenagers were charged with murder today after they led police on a high-speed chase in southeastern Kentucky and hit a parked sheriff's cruiser, killing the deputy and K-9 dog inside, authorities said.
"That happens so often. The bad guys walk away ... too many times," said Bell County Sheriff Bruce Bennett, pausing to brush back tears. "Of course, these are young people. But still, they are murderers now."
The driver drove away from an Exxon station in Baxter without paying for $38 worth of gas at 12:35 a.m., authorities said. Police followed the car at least 10 miles west on U.S. 119, into neighboring Bell County.
State police said two state troopers attempted to stop the speeding driver on the winding highway through the mostly rural, rugged Appalachian coal-mining region.
The teen's car veered over the center line at a slight curve in the wet two-lane road and rammed into the deputy's cruiser parked on the shoulder waiting to join the pursuit. Sheriff's Deputy Sean Pursifull, 31, and his police dog King, a 5-year-old German shepherd, were killed, authorities said.
Authorities estimated the teenagers were traveling "well over 100 miles per hour when they left the road," Bennett said.
When Bennett arrived at the scene just minutes after the crash Pursifull, whom he had known since he was a boy, was unresponsive. Still, the sheriff held the deputy's hand for a half-hour as officers worked around them.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at knoxnews.com ...
Not in FLORIDA !!!
there are some usual suspects here that hate cops and any law enforcement, and usually show up to try to wreck these threads. One has to presume that they have personal reasons for it.
What do you feel it should be?
Um, let’s see. The kid was running from the scene of a crime. Driving to endanger the public. Had full knowledge of the pursuing police and refused to stop.
Murder. I would expect to see nothing less.
Or, you could say the police were too aggressive and “forced” the kid into a dangerous situation.
I, myself, am not a big fan of police chases. $38.00 of gas is not worth the life of a LEO that is out there protecting our lives and livelihood. Not to mention the dog that can nab a drug dealer with much less danger to all.
But, the law is the law. In California they have tried, so far unsuccessfully, to force the OEM’s to include a wireless “kill switch” in the ECM’s of all vehicles to end these types of situations.
What are the options? That LEO is dead, and he won’t get un-dead. This is the direct result of that kid’s actions. Certainly he should be held responsible.
The “correct decision” according to who? You? Get real.
Gotcha.
I live near this area. The deputy who died was parked off to the side of the road, not blocking the road. The troopers in pursuit said the two punks intentionally rammed the parked cruiser killing the deputy and the dog. The road is not a winding mountain road, on the entire road from Harlan to Pineville you might have two what might be considered “dangerous” curves. The state has spent a substantial amount of money to make HWY 119 into a fairly nice drive.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney for Bell Co. is a woman who is tough as nails on criminals and if she thinks she can get a murder conviction she will push it. The entire county is very upset at the killing of the deputy, I look for defense attorney to ask for a change of venue for the two things.
Vehicular homicide or manslaughter.
Where do YOU draw the line. If someone is going 60 in a 55 and is involved in a fatal wreck, would you charge them with murder? Some soccer mom drifts across the center line while chatting on the phone?
Nothing in this story indicates that it would be anything other than a misdemeanor 520.100 Fleeing or evading police in the second degree. "(b) While operating a motor vehicle with intent to elude or flee, the person knowingly or wantonly disobeys a recognized direction to stop his vehicle, given by a person recognized to be a peace officer."
No, I wouldn’t call that murder. In your example of the soccer mom, to me that would be negligent homicide.
But, these kids were eluding the police, running from a crime scene. It’s the same thing, to me, as shooting an innocent bystander while committing a robbery. In my mind, they did commit murder. I know someone that killed a fella in a fistfight. That was manslaughter.
Drawing the line IS a very hard judgment call. I have my opinions, but I’m certainly not qualified to make that kind of final decision.
The correct decision is the one where everyone goes home. Mr. Peterson.
How profound.
Leni
This is leap year?
I usually don’t pay attention...
FRY THEM !!
A friend of mine owns a restaurant and he tells me he and his wife work 25/8, LOL.
And they do.
Leni
But, but, guys, if there were fewer high speed chases, all of the police chase video shows would be re-runs.
Kentucky does not apply the felony murder rule. And most jurisdictions that still use it only apply it to felonies such as rape, burglary, robbery, kidnapping and arson.
You bet, if that "someone" was eluding police apprehension following commission of a felony. This is where "the law draws the line!"
So that's a "no", then, to the question as asked.
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