A recent West Palm Beach car chase led to two people being arrested and three people being injured, The Palm Beach Post reports.
Car chases with police can be very dangerous because suspects are often forced to drive at high rates of speed through crowded streets, putting them and others in danger. These chases are initiated by police officers, who sometimes have little reason to pursue suspects or violate department policies in conducting chases.
Our West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyers recognize that these chases can be extremely dangerous and can also lead to additional criminal charges.
In this case, The Palm Beach Post reports, two men were arrested after three people were injured following a chase and crash in West Palm Beach. The newspaper states that the 28-year-old driver, from West Palm Beach, now faces charges of fleeing and eluding, resisting an officer without violence, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and driving with a suspended license.
The 20-year-old passenger is charged with resisting arrest without violence.
Police say an officer was responding to a call around midnight when the officer spotted a car running a stop sign. As the car headed north, it allegedly ran through another stop sign, heading north on Interstate 95.
As the officer followed, the vehicle drove south in the northbound lanes before heading through several stop signs and hitting a vehicle, causing the other vehicle to roll over. The story doesn't state when the chase began, however.
Police say the driver continued driving toward a residence and jumped out of the car when police caught up to them. They report the passenger threw himself to the ground, but wouldn't comply with orders from officers.
The driver allegedly ran away from police, but was later apprehended.
It may be tough to make a case against the passenger in this situation. Obviously, because he wasn't driving, it would be hard to charge him with participating in the pursuit. The fact that he gave himself up shows he was cooperating with police. If being injured in a vehicle collision and simply asking police not yank his arms behind his back and into handcuffs is a crime, most people in that situation would be charged.
As for the driver, the charges he faces show that the primary charge he was worried about was driving on a suspended license, which is no reason for a police chase. Now, both men face serious charges that require a strong defense.
An experienced West Palm Beach criminal defense attorney would advise clients never to engage in a high-speed police chase because not only does it put the driver and passengers at risk, but also other drivers, pedestrians, the police and others in harm's way. It will also always lead to more criminal charges. If someone is injured or killed, even the officer doing the chasing, the suspects can be charged with that death. It is a slippery slope that should be avoided at all costs.
If you, a family member or other loved one is arrested and charged with a crime in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale or Miami, contact Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Lawyers today at 1-866-727-5384 to discuss your rights.
Additional Resources:
Wild car chase through West Palm Beach leaves three injured, 2 arrested, by Julius Whigham II, The Palm Beach Post
