Police vs Motorcycle Rider Controversy
written by sideout
The incident occurred on August 25 this year. In a small Texas town of Watauga a police officer had initiated a chase after a motorcycle rider that allegedly had ran the red light. A backup officer in a cruiser gets in a way of an elusive rider forcing a crash. Both 25 year old male rider and his 31 year old female passenger were thrown 60 feet and suffered severe head trauma, broken ribs, and leg and arm injuries. The rider was in a hospital for a week. The Watauga police alleged that the pursuit had started after the rider ran the red light. On November 30 under the order by the Texas attorney general’s office the videos from both police cruiser mounted cameras were released by the city of Watauga.
The videos revealed that not only the rider did not run the red light. But also the backup police officer turned his vehicle into the rider to cause the collision. That officer was suspended for 60 days without pay, and the officer who began the pursuit was suspended for 15 days without pay. Officials with the district attorney’s office have said they don’t generally investigate police departments unless someone first makes a complaint to the Texas Rangers or unless a police department makes a complaint to the district attorney.
I think this story is outrageous. Two people are in the hospital with severe injuries due to the police power trip and no investigation had been started. Coming from a communist country I know pretty well how corrupt law enforcement agencies could get. And I would not expect them to act like they did in this given incident in the land of the free.
Riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous. A rider should be alert. But I guess the last thing a rider should be concerned with is a danger coming from the police. May be not anymore. The precedent has been set.
Read the detail story here - http://www.star-telegram.com/629/story/346744.html. Unfortunately I could not embed videos in the post.
Video from the pursuing cruiser- http://media.star-telegram.com/Multimedia/News/7dec/071206watauga/index.html.
Video from the cruiser that had forced the collision - http://www.star-telegram.com/Multimedia/News/7dec/071206watauga2/index.html.
This is not surprising that it happened in Texas. Texas law enforcement is tantamount to martial law.
Todd
December 13th, 2007
Nothing can justify the actions taking by the cops but why did the rider run? If he did nothing wrong, why did he run?? That was a big mistake on his part that could have easily been avoided. He’s lucky to be alive…The cops could’ve easily shot him and said that they “feared for their safety”. When it comes to any government agencies, if it’s you against them, you’re fucked….
Kate
December 14th, 2007
Your information is incorrect. The rider ran a light further south. The police officer pulled up behind him, and did not turn on the lights unil that light turned green. Then the biker ran. He did over 80 mph in an area that the speed limit never exceeds 30. The rider had no license, no insurance, which was why he ran. The policeman blocked the road to stop him, and it worked. Kudos to the policeman. I ride a bike every day, and don’t have to worry about this. There’s a very simple solution, when the policeman turns on the lights, pull over.
TxRider
May 27th, 2008