It doesn’t matter if you think you can outrun the cops – you can’t outrun a radio. That’s a lesson that this Chevy Tahoe driver had to learn the hard way after he tried to flee from police officers in a high-speed chase that ended when his SUV was taken out with a PIT maneuver. Now, we’re watching it all go down in the following viral video.
Recently posted online, the video is about six-and-a-half minutes long, and was captured in Crittenden County, Arkansas. According to the video description, the chase occurred on the morning of July 17th. Around 10:30 a.m. local time, Officer Spencer Morris overheard radio traffic indicating a pursuit was under way on Military Road involving a Chevy Tahoe. The Tahoe was headed towards Mound City Road, and Officer Morris was able to intercept the SUV on Interstate 40 eastbound as it entered the interstate, at which time Morris took primary position in the pursuit.
In the video, we see Morris accelerate onto the highway as the Chevy Tahoe comes into view. Morris takes a position behind the Chevy Tahoe as the two vehicles pass several other motorists. Speeds eclipse the 100-mph mark as we see semi trucks, pickups, and crossovers move out of the way.
Around the one-minute mark, the Chevy Tahoe and pursuing police vehicle clear the traffic. Morris takes a position to the right of the Chevy Tahoe, and in a single move, rams the rear end of the SUV. The Chevy Tahoe starts to spin, and according to the report, it strikes the outside concrete wall before ricocheting back across the highway, striking the center divider before coming to a stop.
We see the police officer pull a U-turn after performing the PIT maneuver, showing us the state of the SUV. We see the left-rear tire on the Chevy Tahoe is torn off the wheel. A swarm of police officers surround the vehicle, guns drawn.
Watch the full video right here:
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Comments
back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, I was a police officer, but our department had very strict guidelines for pursuits. Nobody on our force was PIT certified. However, we knew a fair amount of what was involved in a PIT maneuver. For one, you don’t do them in any higher traffic areas. Two, the higher speeds would be around 40 MPH. Lastly, you would only use it under the most severe conditions with really no options left and the suspect/s HAD to be a known felon or they just committed a known felony.
With that said, I’ve seen quite a few of these being done in Arkansas as they must have a more “broad” policy for them. This one was done at 103 MPH and with a fair amount of traffic on the freeway. All I can say is that they are super lucky it went as well as it did. I’m glad they got the perp, but this could have turned out way different. And in a very bad way.
arkansas is like the wild america. what i see come out of there is 20-30 years behind everybody else. it really reminds me of growing up when i started driving. it’s like being teleported back in the past watching these. everything from the way they talk, to how they chase, to where to hide etc. it is all 30 years behind the times. a true opportunity for the gen z to see how all of america was a generation ago
we dont pit here either anymore. not that you can anyway. not that you can even run away unless you step out of the car and leap over other cars stuck in traffic…
Seeing you have experience on the force, have you seen clips of the grappler in action online yet? They use a rope to grab hold of the tires and get tangled up. What do you think of those in high speed pursuits.
Never used one. Not aware of anyone in the state using it. To me it’s another jesus tech that will never really pick up. We went through a few of those over the years that are now forgotten or barely still in use. If you can effectively end the pursuit without a wreck its good sure. Sadly how it always ends up working is you just chase and chase trying to deploy whatever thing and the end outcome is the same. end up ramming or crashing yourself. Outside of a lab it never works like they claim it does.
I agree that this could have been much worse but it wasn’t because of the concrete barriers on both sides. They kept the Tahoe from going across the median into oncoming traffic and also kept it from barrel rolling. Planned or lucky? I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, but glad they got their man.
Richard: I’ve been out of that line of work (thankfully) for quite some time now. However, I have seen a video a while back showing that system. I truly don’t know enough about it to speak truthfully about it. I do feel that in concept, it would be great but I’m not too sure about the implementation in the real world.
My thought, having been in law enforcement and also having been in the auto business for so long, is that we now have the electronic capability to shut any car down with the proper equipment. Kind of like what OnStar can do but on any car brand. I think that would be the safer way to go. Just my opinion.
Thanks for your take. I agree that auto-disengage will eventually become the norm.
I believe I read here on GM Authority that many police departments are not permitted to use the pit maneuver. Too many fatalities including innocents resulting from it when the vehicle rolls over down the hwy.
GeorgeS: In the mid-west where I worked, I don’t recall any department (state, county or city) that was set up to use the PIT. Like you said, just too darn dangerous. To pursue or not to pursue is even a huge debate because as law enforcement you want to get the bad guys and we (they) should. But at what cost?
Take this video example. It ended well. But let’s look at what could have also happened. Let’s say that higher center of gravity Tahoe would have flipped over the center divider and crushed a Toyota Corolla with a mom and a 2 year old, a 5 year old and an 8 year old, killing all 4 of them. Thank God it didn’t happen, but it certainly could have happened. Would that have been worth it to “get” the bad guy? And that is why you are correct in that many departments don’t allow this.
The really big problem is testosterone level. Young guys just want to win. You want the police to win, but there is so much technology that can be used. No reason why a magnetic disc fired at the vehicle to stick and use for tracking. If everyone backed off would the bad guy back off? Too many unknowns for a standard pursuit. My dad was a cop is whole working life, even was shot by a pellet gun. NYPD 20 years, 20 years with the USPS police.
Another reason not to buy a Tahoe.
The new Tahoes look great but are pricy!
IF I was the perp I would have gotten in front of the pursuing officer and slammed on my brakes. Crushed cooling systems don’t last long when subjected to crashing in to rear ends of pursued vehicle. As for the comment about pursued vehicle being electrically equipped to be able to be stopped,, do you want FBI or CIA or some other treacherous State group doing that? Suggest you read 1984 by Huxley.