By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE — When a police officer spotted a Jeep Cherokee SRT stopped with its doors open near a parked vehicle at 4:10 a.m. Nov. 6 near Third and Spruce streets, they approached to investigate what appeared to be someone breaking into vehicles.
However, as the police officer approached, the Jeep driver turned off the vehicle headlights and drove away at a high rate of speed.
The officer followed the fleeing vehicle south on Biddle Avenue, west on Oak Street and north on Fort Street, where the fleeing Jeep reached speeds exceeding 120 mph. In the interest of safety to the public the police officer terminated the pursuit.
When the police officer returned to site where they originally spotted the Jeep, they discovered a Dodge Charger with a shattered window, which seemed to indicate that the suspects were attempting to enter and steal the sports car.
Deputy Police Chief Archie Hamilton said that while the police officer may have prevented a vehicle theft, current laws allow offenders to escape without fear of consequences, which allows criminal behavior to continue while innocent drivers are put at risk during high-speed pursuits.