The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Joplin Metro

Discussion

April 1, 2009

Agencies reviewing tapes of police chase

By Jeff Lehr

jlehr@joplinglobe.com

Joplin’s police chief said Tuesday’s pursuit of a suspect in a stolen truck was prompted by officers’ belief that he posed a significant threat to public safety.

Police say Daniel Hylton, 23, who was pursued in the 38-minute chase through the streets of the city, ultimately managed to elude officers and remained at large Wednesday.

No vehicle collisions or injuries were reported in the chase that began at 12:10 p.m. on South Range Line Road and ended at 12:48 p.m. when Hylton abandoned the stolen truck at 16th Street and New Hampshire Avenue and fled on foot.

“It was not as simple as just a stolen vehicle,” police Chief Lane Roberts said Wednesday.

Roberts said Hylton had eluded sheriff’s deputies Friday at the Tara Motel east of Duenweg, was wanted in connection with a methamphetamine lab discovered there, and was believed to be armed. He also reportedly tried to run down an officer on foot during the pursuit. Roberts said all those factors constituted “a significant threat to public safety” if Hylton was not captured.

Roberts said officers always must weigh such circumstances against the dangers inherent in a high-speed pursuit. He said he had no doubt that, in this case, the officers involved believed the pursuit was justified. But, he said, the Police Department will be reviewing and analyzing film of the chase captured by video cameras in the police cars.

The film will be reviewed for appropriateness of speeds under the driving conditions and driving environments involved, and with respect to the presence of pedestrians.

“It’s my job to second-guess them,” Roberts said. “It’s not always popular, but that’s my job.”

He said he believes at least five law-enforcement vehicles were involved in the chase. He said he had not yet been informed exactly how many police cars participated at any point in the pursuit. He said he had heard that a state trooper in a pickup truck and a couple of sheriff’s department cars were involved.

“I’ve not been told that there was an accident by anybody, including my staff,” he said.

Capt. Derek Walrod of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department said two deputies were involved. Walrod said he thought at least one of their cars was equipped with a camera. He said his department also routinely reviews the tapes it has for appropriateness of responses. He said he was not yet aware of any inappropriate actions.

“I understand the public’s concern and the comments that have been made,” Walrod said. “But we weren’t forcing this guy to run. He’s the one who made the decision to run.”





Recognition



Capt. Derek Walrod of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department said it was his understanding that the chase began when an undercover officer ran the license plates on the truck and learned that it was stolen. He said authorities did not know that Daniel Hylton was the driver until a Joplin police officer involved in the pursuit recognized him.

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