I’ll admit it. I love watching car chases. Whether high speed or low
speed, there is something exciting about the drama involved in the police
chasing a suspect.
And now to add a new element to the
story, a man
in Vermont is filing suit against the city, police department, its police
chief, and some of its officers for the damages he suffered while fleeing the
scene of a crime on his motorcycle.
Paul Bourn was
suspected on not paying for his gas and fled the scene before police could
question him. His subsequent crash into
the roadblock designed to stop the high speed pursuit has caused him, “repeated
headaches, nightmares, blackouts, and unexpected behavioral mood swings.” The
defense: all physical ailments are the result of Bourn’s own negligence. He was after all running away from the cops
that gave him ample opportunity to stop!
Here are a couple more fun facts...He
was accused of stealing $7 worth of gasoline.
He was going 100 mph when his motorcycle crashed into the
roadblock. He is seeking $100 million in
damages. He is currently serving time in
jail for aggravated assault in an unrelated incident Is anyone else seeing a disconnect
here?
Fleeing
the scene of a crime can carry some serious penalties that should (but
don’t) act as a deterrent. For example,
taking the police on a high speed chase will be charged as a felony reckless
driving, and subject the individual to a host of other legal problems. Not to mention how stupid it is and the
potential to cause serious damage or death to other innocent bystanders.
It is a shame that people are so caught
up in the moment that they fail to think about the consequences of their
actions. From celebrities
to people Mr. Bourn above, it is always a better idea to stay put.
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