Free Republic

Scores of criminals might have eluded immediate capture had a controversial new plan to limit Houston police vehicle chases been in effect in the past 18 months, department records show. Police Chief Harold Hurtt's proposal, set for a hearing Monday at City Hall, would restrict his officers from engaging in lengthy pursuits when a fleeing motorist's only known crime is a Class C misdemeanor, such as a traffic violation. That was the reason officers gave for almost half the chases recorded in the past year and a half. Yet when those chases ended and suspects were questioned, 40 percent said...

A driver trying to evade authorities thought a recent change in the Houston Police Department's chase policy would help him get away from a Harris County Sheriff's deputy Tuesday night. Sheriffs officials said Richard Javier Ramos,35, said he thought HPD's revised chase policy was still in effect and would allow him to flee from authorities. HPD officers were alerted when Ramos entered city limits and assisted deputies with the chase. Ramos had been arrested and charged for evading arrest in a motor vehicle almost 2 months ago. He was serving jail time over the weekends. He has been charged again...