Was police chase through Edmonton residential neighbourhood necessary? Expert weighs in
Posted April 5, 2022 3:58 pm.
Last Updated April 5, 2022 7:39 pm.
A police chase in northeast Edmonton Sunday night ended with two civilians and two responding officers in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and one man arrested.
While some might question whether a police pursuit through a residential neighbourhood is necessary, justice studies professor Doug King says, “if they let the vehicle go, and it resulted in a multi-vehicle crash where multiple people died, the conversation we would be having right now would be very different.”
The chase started Sunday evening in a northeast Edmonton trailer park when officers responded to the call of a suspicious vehicle. When police tried to speak to the driver, he fled the scene, striking a police cruiser, and narrowly missing an officer.
According to King, “attempting to strike an officer with a vehicle is assault with a weapon. It showed that the individual being pursued didn’t really care about the well-being of other people.”
The chase then led police through a residential neighbourhood.
“Typically you don’t pursue through a residential area,” King added. “Unless there is an overwhelming pressing need to do that.”
READ: Driver of stolen truck strikes vehicles during dangerous police chase, sends four to hospital
Edmonton police say they considered many factors when pursuing the stolen truck, and say public safety was their top priority given the truck’s dangerous driving patterns which resulted in property and vehicle damage.
The 32-year-old male driver of the truck was arrested and is facing multiple charges.
