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Video helps clear Mishawaka officer in death of motorcyclist during chase
https://www.southbendtribune.com ^ | 6/5/18 | Jeff Parrott

Posted on 06/06/2018 5:25:34 AM PDT by BBell

MISHAWAKA — A motorcyclist killed in a crash while eluding police on May 26 had far outrun an officer, who won’t face criminal charges in the incident, St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter announced Monday.

When he crashed the motorcycle on Jefferson Boulevard near Wyland’s Marine and a Village Pantry, John M. Williams, 46, was so far ahead of Mishawaka police Patrolman Andrew Sark, about a quarter-mile, that the crash cannot be seen on the dashcam video.

“After speaking with witnesses and reviewing the evidence, (the St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team) determined that the motorcycle traveled at high rates of speed, disregarded traffic control devices, and did not stop after Patrolman Sark activated the lights in his marked squad car,” according to a news release issued by FACT. “At the time of the crash, Sark was a substantial distance from the motorcycle.”

The video dispels speculation from Williams’ supporters on Facebook that an officer must have “bumped” the motorcycle, forcing it to crash, said Mishawaka police Chief Kenneth Witkowski.

The Mishawaka Police Department’s “Vehicle Operation, Pursuit and Emergency Response” policy states that, “Officers engaged in pursuit shall at all times drive in a manner exercising due regard for the safety of themselves and all other persons and property within the pursuit area.”

“By looking at that video, I’ve seen nothing that would make me believe he did something wrong according to our (standard operating procedures),” Witkowski said of Sark.

Witkowski said he did not know the top speeds reached by Sark or Williams.

Sark, 34, having been hired in November 2016, has never been disciplined for anything in the past, police said. In February, he received a commendation for saving the life of a crash victim, Witkowski said.

(Excerpt) Read more at southbendtribune.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: death; mishawaka; motorcyclist; officer
2 minute video at link.

Facebook rumors start riots. Good thing there was a dash cam to show that this guy was way ahead of the cop.

1 posted on 06/06/2018 5:25:34 AM PDT by BBell
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To: BBell

>>Facebook rumors start riots.

Zuckerschmuck boasted he was going to end all fakenews on his website. When will that start?


2 posted on 06/06/2018 5:30:15 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Spygate's clock began in 2015 - what did President Obama know and when did he know it?)
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To: BBell

As Zucktard said he’s removing content that is false, he should be held accountable for his site’s involvement in the riot.


3 posted on 06/06/2018 5:31:05 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Spygate's clock began in 2015 - what did President Obama know and when did he know it?)
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To: a fool in paradise

He meant he was going to end news that hurt Democrats


4 posted on 06/06/2018 5:31:46 AM PDT by AppyPappy (Don't mistake your dorm political discussions with the desires of the nation)
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To: AppyPappy

Even when news articles don’t support their trending summary, ZuckTheF***’s site spreads fake news.

Earlier this weak it was a summary about Nancy Pelosi saying the economy was bad. If you clicked on it, it was actually about all of the flak she got and evidence that the economy is not bad. But if you skim “trending” by headline and summary, she was merely pointing out “fact”.


5 posted on 06/06/2018 5:35:02 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Spygate's clock began in 2015 - what did President Obama know and when did he know it?)
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To: a fool in paradise

Facebook is a playground for the ignorant. Some of the dumbest people I know will repeat anything on Facebook that mirrors their opinion. Even though I block the sources, FB allows the liberals ones to bleed through and it won’t allow you to block them because you already blocked them.
It’s no wonder so many people get scammed every year. People have allowed their skepticism to atrophy.


6 posted on 06/06/2018 5:39:33 AM PDT by AppyPappy (Don't mistake your dorm political discussions with the desires of the nation)
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To: BBell

In the late 80’s, I met the guy who invented the first dash cam. He told me that there were a couple unintended benefits.

One was in clearing cops in cases like this when they were innocent, the other was when a drunk was pleading his innocence in court to wheel in the TV and show the dash camera film.


7 posted on 06/06/2018 5:43:04 AM PDT by cyclotic ( WeÂ’re the first ones taxed, the last ones considered and the first ones punished)
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To: cyclotic

Lots of dash cams in Russia, Eastern Europe and China. It keeps people from trying to lie their way out of accidents.


8 posted on 06/06/2018 5:58:52 AM PDT by BBell (calm down and eat your sandwiches)
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To: BBell

A guy had a helmet cam on here in MD when I first moved here. A plain clothes cop in a completely unmarked car pulled him over at gunpoint for speeding (not his job).

He apparently didn’t notice the helmet cam,, which was subsequently released on youtube.

As I recall, the officer was heavily admonished. Fired I think.


9 posted on 06/06/2018 6:03:25 AM PDT by cyclotic ( WeÂ’re the first ones taxed, the last ones considered and the first ones punished)
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To: BBell
Stupid biker...


10 posted on 06/06/2018 6:19:16 AM PDT by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
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To: cyclotic

Most of the time even before it is shown in open court.

The defense well plea deal after seeing the video in a pre trial conference.


11 posted on 06/06/2018 6:22:06 AM PDT by riverrunner
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To: BBell
Facebook rumors start riots.

Nah...not unless protective coloration is involved.

12 posted on 06/06/2018 6:24:13 AM PDT by JimRed ( TERM LIMITS, NOW! Build the Wall Faster! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
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To: JimRed
Coloration but not the right affiliation to merit a riot.

News of Williams' death spread quickly among motorcyclists taking part in Sunday's Stars and Stripes Forever Ride The annual ride is put on by the American Legion Riders 357. "The whole community that knows him is sorrowed by it. It was tragic and it could have been avoided," said Wayne Zwierzynski, director of American Legion Riders 357

13 posted on 06/06/2018 6:39:58 AM PDT by BBell (not drinking, just a smart a$$)
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To: BBell

“A motorcyclist killed in a crash while eluding police”

enough said right there!


14 posted on 06/06/2018 6:59:13 AM PDT by Airwinger
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To: Airwinger
A motorcyclist organ donor killed in a crash while eluding police.

Fixed it.

15 posted on 06/06/2018 7:00:20 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn)
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To: BBell

Did they serve the outstanding warrant on the body?


16 posted on 06/06/2018 7:03:26 AM PDT by moovova
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To: BBell
I got one for my commuter car, and need to put one in the wife's car as well. Helped me prove to myself that I was wrong once, which cost me 2 rims (no excuse other than badly potholed roads), so great for that peace of mind...

Had another incident where I didn't have one (and wish I had) as the situation almost took a bad turn based on an aggressive driver (not me) who thought he was in the right (he wasn't), and was willing to fight over it...

Good thing he never had to find out I was packing...

17 posted on 06/06/2018 7:56:14 AM PDT by Dubh_Ghlase
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To: BBell

Trying to ride at speed on one of those clumsy “cruisers” is a recipe for a crash. Surprised the cop could not keep up with the POS.


18 posted on 06/06/2018 11:09:23 AM PDT by doorgunner69 (Give me the liberty to take care of my own security..........)
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To: doorgunner69

The cop and motorcycle were running red lights going through a populated place and the chase was not for a suspected murder or anything. I imagine there is pursuit protocol.


19 posted on 06/06/2018 11:41:34 AM PDT by BBell (not drinking, just a smart a$$)
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