A precision immobilization technique took a dangerous and unexpected turn when the maneuver sent both the officer’s vehicle and the suspect’s vehicle airborne, illustrating that even well-trained officers executing standard pursuit tactics can encounter situations that develop in dangerous and unpredictable ways. The incident, which resulted in both vehicles becoming airborne, demonstrates the inherent risks involved in pursuit intervention even when officers are properly trained and following established procedures. The dramatic outcome serves as a reminder of the dangers that pursuit situations create for everyone involved.
Pursuit intervention techniques like the PIT maneuver are inherently risky, and while training and experience reduce the likelihood of dangerous outcomes, they cannot eliminate the possibility of situations developing in unexpected and hazardous ways. The airborne outcome in this incident reflects the unpredictable physics that can result when vehicles come into contact at speed during the dynamic environment of a pursuit. The incident illustrates why pursuit policy and tactics remain subjects of ongoing review and refinement, as agencies seek to balance the need to stop fleeing suspects with the genuine dangers that intervention techniques create for officers, suspects, and bystanders alike.
If the suspect were a person of color, the cops would have already
choked him, beat, kicked, and shot him to death.