The officer also didn’t have backup, so when another motorist stopped, he had to manage both parties alone
December 4, 2023 at 20:11
The PIT maneuver is a controversial tactic some law enforcement agencies use to hopefully end a pursuit. One part of the problem is that they’re not always the safest way to reduce the threat. An Arkansas State Police (ASP) officer who appears to be named Bob Love willingly used the tactic against a Honda at over 105 mph (168 km/h) demonstrates that on his own dashcam.
We’ve covered the various different methods that different police departments attempt to stop chases. Each has pros and cons and there doesn’t seem to be any surefire way to eliminate danger to those surrounding a chase including the officer(s), the suspect(s), and the public in general. Still, it’s unlikely that intentionally wrecking a person at over 100 mph (160 km/h) isn’t at least a little bit negligent.
Nevertheless, that’s exactly what an ASP Trooper did to a Honda Civic that fled a traffic stop. In fact, he did it just after passing multiple cars on the highway. One of those vehicles appears to stop right after the crash in an effort to check on both Love and the suspect. The Trooper responds by yelling at the bystander and having to split attention seemingly in fear that the bystander is a threat.
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Read: Off-Duty Cop In Tesla Arrested After Leading On-Duty Police On High-Speed Chase
The officer’s quick high-speed PIT maneuver isn’t the only questionable part of his behavior in this instance either. Multiple times in the video we hear him tell dispatch that he’s traveling at lower speeds than his GPS indicates. First, he says he’s doing 111 mph (178 km/h) when he’s actually doing 121 (194 km/h).
People make mistakes, it can happen to anyone, especially going that fast in a tense situation but then it happens again. “Speed 114,” he says when the GPS indicates 127 mph (204 km/h).
While it’s plausible that his GPS was simply miscalibrate, he lines up with it (120 mph) during the next check-in. He also mentions multiple times how traffic is “light” so why did he seem to be in such a rush to wreck this driver out into a literal forest on the side of the road? Surely, having backup would’ve been a good thing.
A separate YouTube channel also posted a longer video of this clip below and claims to have a full police report from the incident. The officer allegedly says that he was pulling over the Honda in the first place due to a defective headlight.
Thankfully, nobody in this clip walked away with life-changing injuries. It’s all too plausible for accidents at far slower speeds to cause just that sort of carnage to anyone in the vicinity including law enforcement officers and bystanders.