Email
Print
Concord Police find pursuit was appropriate
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: June 17, 2009
Concord Police Chief Merl Hamilton held a news conference today to update the community on the findings by an administrative internal investigation into the police chase that ended in Mecklenburg County with a fatal car crash.
"The officers did nothing wrong in this vehicle chase that ended in the murder of Docia Polk Barber by a suspect charged by Charlotte Mecklenburg Police," Chief Merl Hamilton, of the Concord Police Department said.
The investigation was conducted by Major Allen Overcash and Major Wendell Rummage with oversight by Deputy Chief Guy Smith.
After a reported larceny at the mall, Concord Police chased five suspects in a vehicle from Concord Mills south down Mallard Creek Road about 3:15 p.m. on May 22.
The suspect car, reportedly reaching speeds of 80 miles per hour, crossed the center line and struck Barber's car head-on.
The entire length of the pursuit was less than three minutes.
The primary police car in pursuit was driven by Officer Joel Patterson, with a secondary car driven by Officer Curtis Anderson.
The officers were in communication with supervisor Sgt. Lyle Worth during the pursuit.
"The officers involved followed North Carolina State Statutes and Concord Police Department Policy," Hamilton said.
Hamilton reported that the Concord Police will continue to pursue criminals when appropriate.
"This event was the ultimate tragedy for Docia Barber and her family. They are the victims of murder, and we have made them an offer to review these findings with the family," Hamilton said.
Police left messages with that offer, Hamilton said, and the family would only say "we'll get back to you".
More details from the report in Friday's edition of the Independent Tribune.
Contact reporter Robin L. Gardner: 704-789-9140
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Click a region for news specific to that area.
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
Advertisement
