Speeding Drunk Hits Median (2009)
Police in Streetsboro also released footage of another high speed chase. This one from early on the morning of January 3rd, along Route 14. Police were pursuing the man for speeding when he slammed into the median. He continued down the highway for another half-mile or so before stopping. He was arrested and found to be drunk.
US Robbery - Video captures suspect appearing to eat note demanding cash
NAME: US ROBBERY 20091122I TAPE: EF09/1093 IN_TIME: 10:26:48:01 DURATION: 00:00:52:11 SOURCES: POLICE HANDOUT DATELINE: Twinsburg, Ohio - 19 Nov 2009 RESTRICTIONS: Must Courtesy Ohio.Com SHOTLIST ++MUTE AT SOURCE++ 1. Dash-cam video of suspect being escorted and searched by police, police officer placing note on car and suspect leaning over hood of police cruiser eating note STORYLINE Police in the United States said a bank robbery suspect in Ohio might have eaten evidence when he gobbled a piece of paper while handcuffed and lying across the hood of a police cruiser. A police cruisers dashboard camera captured 35-year-old John Ford of Cleveland grabbing the paper with his mouth as police emptied his pockets. Ford was arrested following a report of a bank robbery in Streetsboro just south of Cleveland on Thursday. Police said a man walked into the bank and handed a teller a note that demanded money. The whereabouts of the note demanding money came into question after Ford was taken into custody and Streetsboro investigators asked whether officers had found the piece of paper. Twinsburg police reviewed the images captured on camera and said they observed Ford leaning over to eat something off the hood of the cruiser. Police say they found money in a bag in Ford's car, which fit the description of the bank robber's vehicle, along with a bank die pack that had exploded and a 38-calibre pistol. Ford was being held in the Portage County Jail on Saturday where his file did not indicate he had a lawyer. Ford is also a suspect in bank robberies in Stow and Akron.
US Arrests - Series of arrests over alleged militant plots
NAME: US ARRESTS 20090926I TAPE: EF09/0912 IN_TIME: 10:39:35:01 DURATION: 00:02:41:02 SOURCES: AP TELEVISION/Police Handout/ABC DATELINE: Various - 25 Sept 2009 RESTRICTIONS: See Shotlist SHOTLIST ABC - NO ACCESS NORTH AMERICA/INTERNET Arapahoe County, Colorado - 25 September 2009 1. Pan of armed federal agents guarding airport hangar 2. Wide plan of airplane carrying suspect, Najibullah Zazi being towed from hangar 3. Wide of plane taking off ABC - NO ACCESS NORTH AMERICA/INTERNET New York, New York - 25 September 2009 4. Various top shots of motorcade carrying Zazi travelling on roads towards holding facility 5. Various top shots of car carrying Zazi entering holding facility, surrounded by media AP TELEVISION Dallas, Texas - 25 September 2009 6. Wide of Fountain Place tower, which Hosam Maher Husein Smadi allegedly planned to blow up, zoom in 7. Tilt up of tower 8. Richard Anderson, Hosam Maher Husein Smadi's lawyer, speaking to reporters 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Anderson, Hosam Maher Husein Smadi's Lawyer: "We've got a lot of work to do on our behalf to make sure that we understand everything there is that is necessary to defend our case. We have a 19-year-old boy who is scared, who doesn't have any family hardly at all in this country, and we're going...and also has a language, somewhat of a language barrier." 10. Anderson walking surrounded by media POLICE HANDOUT Ellis County, Texas - 11 September 2009 11. Black and white security camera video of Hosam Maher Husein Smadi in back of police car ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HANDOUT Date and Location Unknown 12. STILL photo of suspect Michael Finton, also known as Talib Islam AP TELEVISION Chicago, Illinois - 25 September 2009 13. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Tucker, DePaul University College of Law: "I think the bigger concern isn't whether you're leading them on; the bigger concern is what happens if they get away at that point, what happens if they get wind of your investigation, they go underground, then they commit the crime that they were planning to, that's the real concern I have." 14. Wide of Tucker working at desk STORYLINE Prosecutors say a 24-year-old Afghan immigrant now in police custody was on the verge of unleashing an attack in New York City on the anniversary of the September 11 2001 attacks. Najibullah Zazi was stopped by police on September 10 as he entered the city of Denver, Colorado, and federal prosecutors say he dropped his plans for an attack once he realised that law enforcement were aware of his reported plans, prosecutors said. Investigators say Zazi and three associates went from one beauty-supply store to another in a Denver suburb this summer buying chemicals to make explosives. Zazi was flown from Denver to New York on Friday on a US government plane. He is now in custody in Brooklyn, police said and will face charges of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction. Zazi denies the militant charge. He is set to appear for a hearing in Brooklyn on Tuesday. On Friday however, a another man arrested in an unrelated alleged bomb plot in Dallas, Texas appeared in court. The 19-year-old Jordanian national, Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, was arrested on Thursday and stands accused of parking what he thought was an explosive-laden truck in a garage beneath the 60-story Fountain Place office tower and trying to detonate it. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said they have had Smadi under surveillance since March. The agency says the suspect has repeatedly espoused his desire to commit violent militant activities. Undercover agents posed as al-Qaida members and set up a decoy car bomb, the FBI said. They say Smadi placed the car bomb in the garage of the Fountain Place tower, in Dallas, Texas. The FBI said Smadi then detonated the bomb from his cell phone but it could not explode as the undercover agents had built it with inert materials so the public was never at risk. Smadi mostly looked down as he was led into a federal courtroom in Dallas in handcuffs. Asked whether he understood his rights, he answered "Yes." Smadi is being represented by public defender Richard Anderson. Following the court hearing, Anderson told reporters had a lot of work to do in order to understand the case and how to defend his client. Anderson said he planned to be ready for Smadi's preliminary hearing scheduled for October 5. The sheriff's department in Ellis County, Texas, released dash-cam video of Smadi in custody in a patrol car. The video was taken on September 11 2009 after deputies arrested Smadi on a charge unrelated to the bomb plot. Smadi was charged with driving without a license or insurance and paid a 550 US dollar fine. Meanwhile, an American ex-convict described as an admirer of US Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh is being held in Illinois. Michael Finton is accused of trying to blow up a federal courthouse in Springfield on Wednesday. Federal agents arrested Finton Wednesday after he attempted to set off what he thought was a powerful bomb in a van outside a federal courthouse. In the Finton and Smadi cases, authorities say decoy devices were provided to the men by FBI agents posing as al-Qaida operatives. Both men are charged with trying to detonate a weapon of mass destruction, although they stressed that the two cases were unrelated and that both had no connection to Zazi. Security analyst Charles Tucker of the DePaul University School of Law said that in such cases, authorities have to perform a balancing act. Tucker said authorities must allow suspects to proceed just far enough with their plans to prove that they were serious about committing the crimes. However, he also noted that authorities must also keep a close watch on the suspects in order to prevent them from actually carrying out an attack. "The bigger concern is what happens if they get away at that point, what happens if they get wind of your investigation, they go underground, then they commit the crime that they were planning to, that's the real concern," Tucker said.
CLIPPING A COP CAR 2009
A motorcyclist is okay after his wild ride and sudden stop was caught on a police cruiser's dash cam. The officer was just starting through the intersection at 9 Mile and Woodward when the cycle slammed into the front quarter panel. The force of the impact sent the rider flying off the bike, and over the hood of the car. The man did get up and was walking around seconds later. A second motorcyclist was also involved in the incident. He took off from the scene.
JEEPERS CREEPERS CHASE 2009
OFFICER MCGREW OF THE OAK RIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS IN HOT PURSUIT OF A JEEP FOR SPEEDING WHO REFUSES TO PULL OVER. TURNS OUT THE SUSPECT HAS BEEN ABUSING PAIN KILLERS AND SOME OTHER DRUGS AND HE’S OUT OF HIS MIND. THE COPS ARE ABLE TO EMPLOY THE USE OF STOP STICKS WHICH EVENTUALLY INDUCE THE JEEP TO WRECK ON THE INTERSTATE. TWO ANGLES OF THIS CRAZY CRASH!
Speeding Cop Overturns Cruiser (2009)
Dramatic video shows speed may have been a big factor in the crash of a police car three weeks ago. Dashboard camera footage shows the officer was going 100 miles-an-hour before he lost control. Officer T. Horne was on his way to help another officer, who had arrived at a call and wasn't answering his radio. The video shows the view from the patrol car's dashboard heading east on Bridge Street zipping through red lights and around other cars. Notice the number in the bottom right corner, that's the officer's speed. It shows he got up to 99 miles-per-hour as he approached a group of cars, then, slowed down briefly to get around them then, speeded back up again. Moments later, as he was about to pass another car on his right, he topped out at 100 when he lost control on a hill. The camera kept rolling until the end. This is what it looked like afterwards. The patrol car, overturned. Officer Horne was rushed to a hospital, but incredibly, was not seriously injured. There are no policies limiting how fast officers can drive on the way to an emergency. But police say they'll review the accident to see if the officer was at fault. If so, he faces some kind of discipline. Police Report: "Unit #1 was responding code 3 to an emergency call. Unit #1 was traveling E/B in the 6500 block of Bridge. Unit #1 swerved to the left to avoid a motor vehicle that was in lane #2 of E/B bidge. Unit #1 lost control and began sliding to the left and then compensated back to the right. Unit #1 slide to the right and struck the south curb line and went airborne. Unit #1 then struck a utility light pole."
THREE RAMS AND YOU’RE OUT! - 2009
OFFICER CRAIG STOPS GUY ON BIKE DUE TO SPEEDING. OFFICER SUSPECTS BAD GUY IS “HIGH” ON SOMETHING. SUSPECT REFUSES TO GET OFF BIKE AND CHASE BEGINS. OFFICER RAMS BIKE THREE TIMES AND TAKEDOWN OCCURS.
Kidnapping Suspect Chase (2009)
A man wanted on charges of kidnapping, felonious assault, and robbery took an officer on a high speed chase through a quiet neighborhood. Nicholas Trusnik, 19, was spotted driving a blue Cutlass Saturday on Frost Road in Streetsboro. When he noticed a police cruiser approaching, officers say Trusnik took off at full speed. Authorities say Trusnik continued through several residential sections, including the Camelot Village and the Tinker's Green housing development before he cut through a yard to try and get away. The officer eventually crashed into Trusnik's car during the off-road pursuit. The chase continues, as Trusnik drives off and the officer takes off on foot, attempting to catch up to the car. Trusnik was eventually turned over to the Ravenna Police Department on their charges. He is now also facing charges of fleeing and eluding police in Streetsboro.
Clever Guy Slams On Brakes (2009)
A wild police chase, early Thursday morning, on Highway 10 in Greenwood ended with the suspect escaping from a Sebastian County sheriffs deputy on foot. Fort Chaffee police were investigating a separate incident on Highway 96 when a white GMC pickup truck pulled over on the side of the road and turned its lights off. When authorities went to check on the vehicle, the driver sped off sparking a chase. The driver ended up going eastbound on Highway 10 forcing a Sebastian County sheriffs deputy to take over the pursuit. "The suspect's vehicle did slam on its brakes causing the deputy to strike them in the rear end," said Corporal John Miller of the Sebastian County Sheriff's Department. The chase continued and moments later, the suspect hit his brakes again, but this time his vehicle veered to the left. The deputy's squad car slammed into the vehicles rear-left side which forced it to go airborne at a 45-degree angle. "After that our deputy was taken out of the pursuit and (the suspect's) vehicle continued into Logan County," said Miller. Sebastian County Sheriff's deputies identified the driver as Arbury Charles Bowerman. Miller said the vehicle Bowerman was driving was stolen from Belle Point Beverages Inc. out of Lavaca, Ark. Miller said it's a miracle no one was killed as a result of the suspect's bold moves. "Anytime a person takes absolute disregard for his own safety, he's not going to care about anybody else," he said. Authorities say Bowerman may be armed, because they found ammunition inside the vehicle he abandoned. If you know his whereabouts, you're asked to call you local police department. Bowerman faces charges of theft of a vehicle, felony fleeing and aggravated assault.
SUSPECTS ASKS COPS TO SHOOT (2009)
"It's unbelievable. It was very dangerous for the public." That's how Alpharetta Police spokesman George Gordon describes an early Friday morning high speed chase that ended with the suspect asking police to shoot him. Gordon says one of his department's officers tried to pull over a weaving Mercedes on Windward Parkway around 1:45 am. But the driver, Thomas Lackey, of Marietta took off instead, turning south on Georgia 400 and hitting speeds of more than 130 miles an hour. Lackey's Mercedes can be seen suddenly exiting off GA 400, narrowly missing another car, and turning right onto Old Milton Parkway. He soon loses control, crosses the median and continues driving on the wrong side of the road until his Mercedes sideswipes a police cruiser and crashes. Ironically, the chase ends almost in front of the Alpharetta Police Headquarters. Right after he wrecks, Lackey bolts from his damaged Mercedes, slams the door and charges toward officers who then tackle him to the ground. Other than sirens, there's no other audio on the video, but according to Gordon, his officers say Lackey shouted, "Shoot me! shoot me!" One of the officers uses a stun gun on him instead after Lackey refuses to quit fighting. Now instead of just a DUI charge, Lackey also faces charges of fleeing, resisting arrest, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle and numerous traffic charges.
DEER LEAPS POLICE CAR 2009
An Indianola police officer said his close call with a deer is something about which he'll be able to talk for a long time. A dashboard camera caught the deer leaping just in front of Dan Deffenbaugh's car. Deffenbaugh posted the video to YouTube, where it's become a quick hit. "My shift's just getting started," he said, recalling the event. "I figure it's going to be a normal day." Instead, he said he witnessed a near-miss like none other in his 10 years on the street. "Right here is the deer," he said, pointing on a video monitor. "There's the vehicle. The (driver) must have seen it because it's hitting the brake lights." Deffenbaugh said he spotted the deer trying to make a very fast run for it across the busy street. "For some reason, instead of going straight across -- maybe it doesn't like cops -- but it decided to go for the patrol car," he said. "That's when it jumps over the vehicle." The leap, just 32 inches up and 70 inches across the Ford Crown Victoria's hook, was all caught on camera. "I don't know who was scared more, the deer or me," he said. "I think, as you watch the video, I wish that you could see my facial expression. I think we probably had the same expression," Deffenbaugh said. Once the deer cleared the squad car, it made a clean getaway. "Definitely a funny experience," he said. "Something I'll be able to talk about for a long time."
THE NOSE KNOWS HE’S LOOPY 2009
POLICE RELEASE DASHCAM VIDEO OF SUSPECTED DRUNK DRIVER FAILING A NOSE TOUCH FIELD SOBRIETY TEST MISERABLY. FUNNY VIDEO.
DON’T I KNOW YOU... & YOUR PAROLE OFFICER? - 2009
OFFICER STOPS TRUCK SUSPECTING IT’S STOLEN. OFFICER KNOWS SUSPECT FROM PREVIOUS PURSUIT AND SUSPECT HAS BEEN IGNORING HIS PAROLE. CHASE STARTS AND POLICE CHIEF GETS INVOLVED. HE TRIES TO STOP BAD GUY WITH HIS TRUCK. BAD GUY GIVES UP AT END OF CHASE.
MAN WITH VERTIGO (2009)
Vero Beach police Tuesday released the video of sobriety tests taken by Indian River County Administrator Joe Baird when he was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol last month. Police allege Baird was driving 43 mph in a 30 mph zone in his private car and crossed a center line before an officer stopped him late May 16 on 21st Street. Baird twice refused to take a Breathalyzer test and failed several roadside sobriety tests, police said. He is pleading not guilty to the charges. The County Commission listened to presentations about the matter during Tuesday morning’s meeting and took no action. Baird remains on the job.
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING 2009
Police chased a shoplifting suspect, who they thought was alone in the car, through two communities. Police say the suspect weaved dangerously through traffic at high speeds, ran red lights and stop signs and at one point nearly hit officers. Ontario police say officers spotted the green car Monday evening, moments after Wal-Mart security notified them of a shoplifter. Dash camera video shows the car passing through a red light at an intersection in front of a police car, in which officers immediately turn on their lights and siren and give chase. Trying to get away from police, the driver, identified as 24-year-old Chiquita Toddie of Mansfield, is seen speeding around other cars, crossing the center line. As the car nears the intersection, the driver makes a sudden left turn in front of another vehicle at a traffic light, and then continues to speed away. Mansfield Police Chief Rodney Smith says the officer decided to call off the chase a short time later. "The officers made the right decision," Chief Smith tells Fox 8 News, adding that at the time they did not have information that anyone other than Toddie was in the car. Although they were not still chasing the suspect, Chief Smith says the officers watched her turn into a residential street and followed from a distance. Video from the cruisers camera shows the car they were following stopped in a cul-de-sac. As the officers exited their car to try and confront the driver, their camera shows Toddie gunning the car, just missing one of the officers as she again speeds past them and continues into Mansfield. Police in Mansfield had been radioed the description of the car and the driver, which they were successful stopping and then got their biggest surprise. In the car, strapped in a baby carrier, was a 9-month-old child. According to police reports, Toddie was supposed to be babysitting. Investigators say Toddie faces multiple charges. She was being held Monday in the Richland County jail. Police have involved Children Services in the investigation. The child was reportedly returned to the parents unharmed. Chief Smith says they were informed in the initial call from store security that the suspect had a child, but in relaying the description of the car and the suspect to the officers the dispatcher did not tell them about the baby. He tells Fox 8 News it might have increased the urgency of the decision making, but under the circumstances things would probably not have changed much. "The officers did what they were supposed to do," he says, referring to their decision to call off the pursuit.
LAW ENFORCEMENT’S A DRAG 2009
A driver who was pulled over Friday night by an Ocala police corporal sped away with the officer's feet hanging out the driver's side door of his Volkswagen convertible. The driver, Bradford Sheldon, 44, of Gainesville, also tried to push Cpl.George Hunley out of the car as he drove at speeds in excess of 80 mph, according to the Police Department. Hunley, Sheldon and Officer Matt Sams, whose foot was run over, received minor injuries. Sheldon was charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, kidnapping, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, two counts of resisting arrest without violence, reckless driving and driving on a suspended license. He declined an interview request from the Starbanner. Here's an account of the episode based on information from the Police Department: It all started shortly before 11 p.m. Friday, when Hunley noticed a blown headlight on a Volkswagen convertible in the 600 block of Northwest 10th Street. Hunley, who had been traveling in the opposite direction, turned around and stopped the VW in the 800 block of North Pine Avenue. Sheldon told the officer that he did not have his driver's license. He reportedly told Hunley it was a valid license and then gave him a name and Social Security number. Hunley checked the information, learned that it was false and called for backup. Then Hunley approached Sheldon, who buckled in the driver's seat, and asked for the keys. Sheldon refused to hand them over. Hunley reached in and tried to get Sheldon out of the car. Then a dashcam video shows the corporal, along with Officer Matt Sams, trying once again to remove Sheldon from the car. During the struggle, Sheldon drove off. A back tire rolled over one of Sams' feet. Hunley's upper body was in the car as the two continued to struggle. His feet were dangling outside. Hunley repeatedly told Sheldon to stop the car, but Sheldon continued to drive, telling the officer to "just get out," a police report says. They continued to struggle, with both men holding onto the steering wheel, the car door open and the VW traveling more than 80 mph. The report says Sheldon swerved the vehicle toward a guard rail at the bridge in the 600 block of North Pine Avenue. The car was damaged when it hit a raised median in the 900 block of South Pine Avenue. Hunley then turned the steering wheel to the left, which made the car turn onto Southwest 10th Street, where it stopped. Sheldon crawled out the passenger side window to escape. Hunley pulled out his Taser and stunned him. It appeared to have no effect, as Sheldon continued to resist. Hunley tackled him and placed him under arrest. Sheldon had just been release on Oct. 24 from Marion Correction Institution after serving more than a year for credit card fraud and cocaine possession.
ENRAGED EX HUSBAND GUNNED DOWN BY COPS 2009
DEPUTIES FATALLY SHOT A MAN AFTER A WOMAN CALLED 911 FROM HER CAR SAYING HER EX-HUSBAND WAS ARMED AND CHASING HER IN HIS TRUCK. WHEN COPS GOT TERRY MEADORS TO FINALLY PULL OVER, HE HAD A GUN IN HIS HAND AND WAS WAVING IT AROUND, SO POLICE CORRECTLY DROPPED HIM WITH AN ARRAY OF BULLETS. MANCHESTER IS ABOUT HALF WAY BETWEEN CHATTANOOGA AND NASHVILLE.
JUVIE CHASE AND CRASH INTO POLE 2009
Cruiser cam video has been released involving a 14-year-old who led officers on a chase. Police said the chase happened Wednesday night when the teen stole his grandmother’s car. Officers said the teen lost control and hit a pole at the intersection of Packard Drive and Kittridge Road. According to police, officers talked with the boy’s grandmother to see if anything else was taken from her house. The teen now faces charges of auto theft and failure to comply.
ALL THIS FOR STOLEN GAS (2009)
A GEORGIA MAN FACES MULTIPLE CHARGES AFTER STEALING GAS FOR A LOCAL QUICK MART AND THEN LEADING COPS ON A HIGH SPEED CHASE IN WHICH HE OVERTURNED HIS VEHICLE. CHRISTOPHER MOXLEY, 23, WAS CHARGED WITH DRIVING AWAY WITHOUT PAYING FOR GAS, TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE AND OFFICER, RECKLESS DRIVING AND SIX TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. OFFICERS RESPONDED TO A CALL SAYING SOMEONE HAD JUST PUMPED $23 IN GASOLINE AND TOOK OFF IN A FORD EXPLORER. WHEN POLICE FIND THE EXPLORER ON THE ROAD, MOXLEY REFUSES TO PULL OVER...RATHER A CHASE BEGINS. THE CHASE ENDS WHEN THE DRIVER TRIES TO MAKE A RIGHT AFTER BLOWING THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND OVERTURNS.
DUI ATTORNEY DRUNK 2009
On Wednesday, Jan. 28, attorney John Higgins was arrested in Albuquerque for a suspected DWI. Footage of the arrest, including Higgins' refusal to take a field sobriety test and his subsequent detainment in the back of a squad car has been released. The video contains explicit language. Viewer discretion is advised.
Chase with no Light, Sirens - 2009
A Lee County Sheriff's deputy was disciplined for breaking the rules during a high-speed chase in early January. Dash cam video shows the pursuit, which reached speeds of well over 100 miles an hour. Deputy Thomas Chappell's dash camera recorded the five minute pursuit. At times, the chase reached 130 miles per hour. WATCH THE VIDEO (PLAYS AT RIGHT) During most of the chase, Chappell didn't use his emergency lights or siren. "Clearly it's a violation of sheriff's office policy and procedure," said Tony Schall of the Lee County Sheriff's Office. An internal investigation found Deputy Chappell guilty of neglect of duty. The three year veteran of the sheriff's office reported seeing Antonio Domenech going about 100 mph on US 41 near Island Park in south Fort Myers about 2:20 am on January 4th. The deputy turned on his dash cam while trying to catch the motorcycle. The majority of the footage shows Chappell going 130 miles per hour- changing lanes and passing cars without emergency lights or sirens to warn the public. Once he did turn on his lights, almost 10 miles later- the motorcycle slowed down, lost control and crashed. You can see the driver jump on the hood of the deputy's car and try to run away. Chappell used a taser on him- but Domenech kept resisting. The deputy used the taser again, yet Domenech still managed to get away. With the assistance of backup, Domenech was caught and taken to jail. The sheriff's office says Chappell shouldn't have pursued Domenech without permission from his sergeant, without emergency lights and sirens, while passing cars without, "due regard for the safety of the public." "It's just a safety issue so people, on-coming traffic have more of a visibility factor," said Schall. Chappel was suspended for one week and transferred out of the traffic unit. He is now a district patrol deputy.
Roof Explosion Caught On Tape - 2009
A Kernersville police officer's dashboard camera caught a burning home as it suddenly exploded Wednesday morning. Kernersville Fire Chief Walt Summerville said the explosion was the result of a backdraft. Two Dell employees leaving their second-shift jobs saw the home in flames on Union Cross Rd. and stopped to wake up the people inside. Everyone got out safely, but as the family stood outside watching, firefighters made one last search inside. Seven people escaped the home shortly before it exploded. Investigators said the fire, which likely started before 2 a.m., appeared to have started somewhere around the fireplace, which was in use Tuesday night. The family, which ranges in age from 1 to 60 years old, is staying with relatives for now. The house had smoke detectors, but the fire chief said he wasn't sure if they worked. Brothers Chris and Allen Bell, the two Dell workers who stopped, said they simply did what came naturally. Their father is a firefighter, so they know the danger of a burning home.
Mall Explosion - 2009
An explosion at a Forestville, Maryland strip mall INJURED EIGHT FIREFIGHTERS AND A WASHINGTON GAS EMPLOYEE. The blast was captured by a fire truck’s dashboard camera. Shortly after 1:00 p.m. Prince George’s County Fire and Rescue received a report about a gas leak at the Penn Mar shopping center. Shortly after authorities evacuated the shops, an explosion occurred in one of the stores, causing significant damage to the mall, according to fire department spokesman Mark Brady. NINE people, including EIGHT firefighters, suffered injuries. A gas company employee was working on a gas line at the time of the blast, Brady said.
SCOOTING UNDER THE INFLUENCE 2009
A man is charged with leading Vinton police on a winding, low speed chase last week on a scooter. Joel Dollarhite is charged with driving with intoxicated, resisting assist, felony eluding police, and destruction of property. He is currently in the Roanoke County-Salem Jail. Police say Dollarhite was drunk and refused to pull over on his scooter late on the night of June 3rd. The police dashcam video shows Dollarhite leading police on a chase through Hardy Road, into an apartment complex, then up into a populated neighborhood. An officer said on the tape Dollarhite almost caused five accidents. The scooter can be clearly seen at one point narrowly avoiding hitting one of the Vinton police cruisers head on. Once he ditched his scooter on Aragona Drive, police caught Dollarhite after a short foot chase. At one point, an officer can be heard on the asking Dollarhite why he was “acting like an idiot?“ Dollarhite responded by laughing, shouting, and asking officers to shoot or taser him. Shortly after his arrest, Dollarhite can also be heard on the tape bragging about leading police on the chase. “I gave [the police] a damn good run on a scooter,“ Dollarhite shouts while laughing. “[It won’t] go no faster than 25 mph.“