[johnny7]

For all the officer knew, the child had been kidnapped.

So true. The mother belonged in a mental institution. It was probably just a matter of time before she killed the kid herself.

[ClearCase_guy]

I'm reminded of Jeffrey Dahmer, who was found by the police out in the street, with a drugged-up, bleeding 14-yr old Cambodian boy. Dahmer explained that the boy was his "lover", they were having a spat, everything was OK, and can I please take him back to my apartment. The police said "Sure, no problem."

You really do want the police chasing and actually investigating cases where a perp is trying to take off with a child.

[putupon]

For all the officer knew, the child had been kidnapped

What difference does that make? Chasing a deranged woman w/ a kid in the vehicle through rush hour traffic stands a greater chance of killing the kid regardless of where the kid was obtained from. Or the kid should be killed in case she was kidnapped? That's in the police manual? I must have missed that episode of Dragnet.

The cops have two-way radios in their cars. There is no shortage of police officers and state troopers in Chesterfield County and also a state police helicopter available, usually over at the state police headquarters, just a few miles away.

My suspicion is that the cop was just a "hot dog" unwilling to give up his opportunity to get his rocks off in a high speed chase.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...it was probably just a matter of time before she killed the kid herself....

On what evidence do you make that prediction, Johnny?