Report: 7 killed in Calif. police chase (Fresno)

Orange County Register ^ | Aug. 9, 2009

[South40]

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- The California Highway Patrol says a police chase in Dinuba has ended with seven people dead, including four children.

The patrol says Dinuba police were trying to stop a car Saturday afternoon for a traffic infraction.

Patrol Sgt. Jon Baker says the driver went through a stop sign during the pursuit and collided with a pickup truck.

[ketsu]

The bleeding heart liberals are always trying to coddle the criminals. If we made it possible to avoid a ticket just by mashing the gas, I’d hate to think how many people would be killed. This guy blew through a stop sign to avoid a ticket. That would happening a lot more often.

You can catch a crook like that without having to chase them all over tarnation. Car chases are a tool, not a panacea. If you have a terrorist on the loose by all means chase them. If you have a traffic offender get their license plate and get them at your leisure.

[RobinOfKingston]

Few people are chased for traffic violations, alone. They are chased because they decided to FLEE!

I tend to flee, also. Case in point, a couple days ago a state police car fell in behind me on the freeway. I took the next exit to "flee." He followed me off the freeway. I turned right and he turned left. I wasn't his target this time.

A policeman can follow you for a relatively short distance and catch you doing something to stop you for. I no longer take the chance. If one is behind me I park or change my route.

Yes, there are good cops and bad cops. But you can't tell the difference by looking.

[ketsu]

Countdown to bootlicker apologia in 5...4..3...

[P-Marlowe]

I’wouldn’t want my wife and daughter run over and killed, evven if some punk got completely away with robbing some place.,

If criminals know that they can get away by merely driving fast, they are going to drive fast. And when they get away, the next time they rob or kill someone it very well may be your wife and daughters who are this perp's next victim.

[ketsu]

So, rob a store or murder someone and as long as you can get into a car and drive really fast, you are free. That makes a lot of sense.

Drive fast and the cops shall set you free.

He said "most" mr reading comprehension.

[Drew68]

Where I lived in America everybody I knew drove around with the kids in the back of the truck.

Same here. We all drove in the bed of dad's pickup, held on, popped our heads up over the cabin and loved it!

People don’t do that anymore?

Only of you want to be on the cover of America's Worst Parents magazine.

Sigh...

[P-Marlowe]

He said "most" mr reading comprehension.

Well how do you know this chase wasn't one of the exceptions, Mr. Cop Hater?

[calex59]

maybe come up with a technology that tags the car and monitor it with predator drones, and chase the car from a far distance until the car stop, then move in

You are on a conservative site and you suggest a big brother tactic like that? We already have a "tagging" device on cars, they are called license plates. See, the number on each plate is original to that car, so when a cop gets close enough to get the number, he can then back off, radio in and get the name, address, birth date, hair color, eye color, what type of toothpaste the owner of the car uses and use this info to later go to the home of the traffic violator and arrest them.

In my county the cops use this tactic quite frequently to good affect. They can also radio ahead and have the nail strips placed in strategic spots if the criminal is wanted for something other than running a red light of speeding. There is no need to go any more nanny state than we already are.

[ketsu]

Homer they would say even if a cop wasn’t involved. Some just hate cops for being cops, I suspect most of them have been on the wrong end of the law few time’s.

Criminals don't hate police that much. After all the police are one of their primary social outlets. Watch a career criminal in the police station and you'll know what I mean.

Non bootlicker conservatives hate *some* police officers for the same reason they hate tyrants. A badge gives cops the ability to behave with impunity and many, if not most, do.

[calex59]

Same here. We all drove in the bed of dad's pickup, held on, popped our heads up over the cabin and loved it!

Yep, we used to fight over who got to ride in the bed of the Pick up. There were three of us and Mom always wanted one up front. I think she thought she could control us better that way!

It is a flat shame the way we have allowed the nanny staters to dominate our lives.

[ketsu]

Well how do you know this chase wasn't one of the exceptions, Mr. Cop Hater?

Yawn... the onus is on *you* to understand his argument not me. If you want him to clarify his argument go ahead.

Your jumping to conclusions just makes you look like an apologist and a moron.

[Enterprise]

Just a minor note about the location. This did not happen in Fresno, or even Fresno County. The chase began in Dinuba, which is in in Tulare County and the pursuit terminated at Road 120 and Avenue 424, which is also in Tulare County.

[Enterprise]

"See, the number on each plate is original to that car"

What if the plates don't match the car?

[PapaBear3625]

I frankly believe that these chases would be cut short if police had the ability to shoot the bastards if they don't stop within one minute of the time they refuse to pull over. THAT would probably eliminate 99% of these reckless chases.

I agree with you. Recklessly speeding in a manner which presents a clear and present danger to the lives of innocents would justify the use of deadly force. If the perp KNEW that the police WOULD use deadly force to stop him, there would be fewer attempts to try to escape.

[ketsu]

What if the plates don't match the car?

Helicopters, informers etc... Good police have eyes and ears everywhere. The reason most cops can't is that they act like an occupation force, not public servants.

[SUSSA]

The patrol says Dinuba police were trying to stop a car Saturday afternoon for a traffic infraction.

The cops themselves say they were after the car for "A TRAFFIC INFRACTION." You can make up any story you think will justify 7 deaths, but the facts, as stated by the cops, are these people died because the city wanted the fine money.

Back before my cousins retired from the State Police they used to say there was no excuse for most high speed chases because the bad guys couldn't out run the radio.

[Quickgun]

But driving fast doesn’t mean they ARE going to get away. And I don’t propose the cops get charged with murder, either.They probably should lose their jobs for this, unless some facts come out to prove otherwise. And to assume the perp will victimize your family next still doesn’t fly with me.I can’t get past the indiscriminate risking of life to apprehend IF there is any other alternative. I have two good friends who are cops, and I intend to ask them about this, I’m not a cop hater, but I also know there are cops who deserve to be hated. Those two friends have already told me that. I was personally wronged by three cops in 1975,something I posted about on another thread, so I know firsthand they are capable of wrongdoing.
We’ll have to agree to disagree, on this?

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Patrol Sgt. Jon Baker?

Why couldn’t it have been Patrol Sgt. Joe Don Baker?

[Quickgun]

My opinion, too

[P-Marlowe]

If a perp were pointing a gun in the direction of the general public, no one would complain if the cops put 100 bullets in his brain before he took another breath.

But if some perp points his car in the direction of the general public and steps on the gas threatening to kill everyone in his path, nobody would dare to shoot the b@$+@rd because....????

Well I don't know why they don't shoot the b@$+@rd. If they get a clear shot, they should be able to take it. Instead we are supposed to let them drive away unimpeded. It makes no sense at all.