Vehicle in South Arch police pursue reached seventy five mph before deadly crash
Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, commander of the St. Joseph County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team and St. Joseph County Prosecutor, Ken Cotter observe a dash cam movie from Tuesdays fatal crash after a police pursue during a press conference, Wednesday, February 8, two thousand seventeen in South Arch. Tribune Photo/BECKY MALEWITZ
A one car accident on Humboldt near College street left two people dead and two critically injured in South Arch. The St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team is on the scene investigating. Tribune Photo/SANTIAGO FLORES
Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, commander of the St. Joseph County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team discusses Tuesday’s fatal crash after a police pursue, during a press conference, Wednesday, February 8, two thousand seventeen in South Arch. Tribune Photo/BECKY MALEWITZ
Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, commander of the St. Joseph County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team, St. Joseph County Prosecutor, Ken Cotter and Sargent Corey Brothers of the St. Joseph County Police, discuss Tuesday’s fatal crash after a police pursue, during a press conference, Wednesday, February 8, two thousand seventeen in South Arch. Tribune Photo/BECKY MALEWITZ
Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, commander of the St. Joseph County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team, St. Joseph County Prosecutor, Ken Cotter and Sargent Corey Brothers of the St. Joseph County Police, discuss Tuesday’s fatal crash after a police pursue, during a press conference, Wednesday, February 8, two thousand seventeen in South Arch. Tribune Photo/BECKY MALEWITZ
SOUTH Arch — A stolen vehicle reached speeds of seventy five mph during a almost three-minute-long police pursue through a residential neighborhood Tuesday that ended when the vehicle crashed, killing a pair of teenage brothers and injuring two other boys.
At a Wednesday afternoon news conference, officials with the St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team named the boys who were killed and suggested fresh details on the high-speed pursue, which began after police spotted a stolen vehicle.
Samuel Phillips, 16, was identified as the driver of the stolen Toyota RAV4. Phillips and his brother, 15-year-old Jermaine Fleming, were killed in the crash. Two other teenagers, ages seventeen and 15, remained hospitalized in stable condition Wednesday.
The survivors were identified as 17-year-old Christian Harris, who suffered a head injury, and 15-year-old William Murray, who had numerous cracked bones.
County Prosecutor Ken Cotter said neither of the surviving teenagers were likely to face criminal charges for their roles in the incident.
The RAV4 involved in the pursue was reported as stolen about four a.m. Tuesday from a residence on Vernerlee Lane, in the city’s northeast side.
The pursue began about Five:15 a.m., when South Arch police Officer Nathan Gates spotted the RAV4 in the one thousand five hundred block of Lincoln Way West. Gates attempted to stop the vehicle at Brookfield Street and Elwood Avenue, but the driver failed to stop.
The pursue reached high speeds as Phillips drove north on Brookfield, west on Bergan Street, south on Olive Street and east on Humboldt Street. The RAV4 crashed into a tree at Humboldt and College streets.
Officials at Wednesday’s news conference said Gates and other involved officers acted decently via the pursue.
"This goes without telling this was a tragedy to everyone involved," said Prosecutor Ken Cotter, who oversees FACT, "but the officers had to do their job. The officers maintained decent decorum in the manner they were attempting to stop the vehicle."
The pursue took place along narrow residential streets and amid rainy conditions. However, Cotter said Gates deployed his sirens to warn bystanders. And Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, who leads FACT, said Gates demonstrated "superb restraint" by reaching a maximum speed of just sixty five mph, even tho’ the RAV4 accelerated to seventy five mph at one point.
Other officers also attempted to end the pursue by deploying a "stop stick" along Olive Street in an attempt to deflate the RAV4’s tires, but Phillips went around the device.
It remained unclear Wednesday whether the circumstances of the pursue were consistent with the South Arch Police Department’s policy on vehicle pursuits.
A South Arch police spokesman, Lt. Gene Eyster, previously said the department has some general guidelines on pursuits, but the policy does not necessarily cover any given screenplay.
South Arch police officials did not show up at the news conference. However, Chief Scott Ruszkowski later issued a statement telling the department would conduct an internal review of the case, per standard protocol.
Ruszkowski noted Gates stayed well behind the RAV4 for most of the crash, that there was little vehicle or pedestrian traffic in the area and that no officer’s vehicle came into contact with the fleeing vehicle. He also voiced condolences to the teenagers’ family.
The Tribune submitted a public records request late Tuesday afternoon for a copy of the department’s policies on vehicle pursues. City officials had yet to release those documents Wednesday afternoon.
Vehicle in South Arch police pursue reached seventy five mph before deadly crash, Public Safety
Vehicle in South Arch police pursue reached seventy five mph before deadly crash
Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, commander of the St. Joseph County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team and St. Joseph County Prosecutor, Ken Cotter observe a dash cam movie from Tuesdays fatal crash after a police pursue during a press conference, Wednesday, February 8, two thousand seventeen in South Arch. Tribune Photo/BECKY MALEWITZ
A one car accident on Humboldt near College street left two people dead and two critically injured in South Arch. The St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team is on the scene investigating. Tribune Photo/SANTIAGO FLORES
Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, commander of the St. Joseph County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team discusses Tuesday’s fatal crash after a police pursue, during a press conference, Wednesday, February 8, two thousand seventeen in South Arch. Tribune Photo/BECKY MALEWITZ
Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, commander of the St. Joseph County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team, St. Joseph County Prosecutor, Ken Cotter and Sargent Corey Brothers of the St. Joseph County Police, discuss Tuesday’s fatal crash after a police pursue, during a press conference, Wednesday, February 8, two thousand seventeen in South Arch. Tribune Photo/BECKY MALEWITZ
Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, commander of the St. Joseph County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team, St. Joseph County Prosecutor, Ken Cotter and Sargent Corey Brothers of the St. Joseph County Police, discuss Tuesday’s fatal crash after a police pursue, during a press conference, Wednesday, February 8, two thousand seventeen in South Arch. Tribune Photo/BECKY MALEWITZ
SOUTH Arch — A stolen vehicle reached speeds of seventy five mph during a almost three-minute-long police pursue through a residential neighborhood Tuesday that ended when the vehicle crashed, killing a pair of teenage brothers and injuring two other boys.
At a Wednesday afternoon news conference, officials with the St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team named the boys who were killed and suggested fresh details on the high-speed pursue, which began after police spotted a stolen vehicle.
Samuel Phillips, 16, was identified as the driver of the stolen Toyota RAV4. Phillips and his brother, 15-year-old Jermaine Fleming, were killed in the crash. Two other teenagers, ages seventeen and 15, remained hospitalized in stable condition Wednesday.
The survivors were identified as 17-year-old Christian Harris, who suffered a head injury, and 15-year-old William Murray, who had numerous cracked bones.
County Prosecutor Ken Cotter said neither of the surviving teenagers were likely to face criminal charges for their roles in the incident.
The RAV4 involved in the pursue was reported as stolen about four a.m. Tuesday from a residence on Vernerlee Lane, in the city’s northeast side.
The pursue began about Five:15 a.m., when South Arch police Officer Nathan Gates spotted the RAV4 in the one thousand five hundred block of Lincoln Way West. Gates attempted to stop the vehicle at Brookfield Street and Elwood Avenue, but the driver failed to stop.
The pursue reached high speeds as Phillips drove north on Brookfield, west on Bergan Street, south on Olive Street and east on Humboldt Street. The RAV4 crashed into a tree at Humboldt and College streets.
Officials at Wednesday’s news conference said Gates and other involved officers acted decently via the pursue.
"This goes without telling this was a tragedy to everyone involved," said Prosecutor Ken Cotter, who oversees FACT, "but the officers had to do their job. The officers maintained decent decorum in the manner they were attempting to stop the vehicle."
The pursue took place along narrow residential streets and amid rainy conditions. However, Cotter said Gates deployed his sirens to warn bystanders. And Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, who leads FACT, said Gates displayed "fine restraint" by reaching a maximum speed of just sixty five mph, even however the RAV4 accelerated to seventy five mph at one point.
Other officers also attempted to end the pursue by deploying a "stop stick" along Olive Street in an attempt to deflate the RAV4’s tires, but Phillips went around the device.
It remained unclear Wednesday whether the circumstances of the pursue were consistent with the South Arch Police Department’s policy on vehicle pursuits.
A South Arch police spokesman, Lt. Gene Eyster, previously said the department has some general guidelines on pursuits, but the policy does not necessarily cover any given screenplay.
South Arch police officials did not show up at the news conference. However, Chief Scott Ruszkowski later issued a statement telling the department would conduct an internal review of the case, per standard protocol.
Ruszkowski noted Gates stayed well behind the RAV4 for most of the crash, that there was little vehicle or pedestrian traffic in the area and that no officer’s vehicle came into contact with the fleeing vehicle. He also voiced condolences to the teenagers’ family.
The Tribune submitted a public records request late Tuesday afternoon for a copy of the department’s policies on vehicle pursues. City officials had yet to release those documents Wednesday afternoon.
Vehicle in South Arch police pursue reached seventy five mph before deadly crash, Public Safety
Vehicle in South Arch police pursue reached seventy five mph before deadly crash
Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, commander of the St. Joseph County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team and St. Joseph County Prosecutor, Ken Cotter witness a dash cam movie from Tuesdays fatal crash after a police pursue during a press conference, Wednesday, February 8, two thousand seventeen in South Arch. Tribune Photo/BECKY MALEWITZ
A one car accident on Humboldt near College street left two people dead and two critically injured in South Arch. The St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team is on the scene investigating. Tribune Photo/SANTIAGO FLORES
Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, commander of the St. Joseph County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team discusses Tuesday’s fatal crash after a police pursue, during a press conference, Wednesday, February 8, two thousand seventeen in South Arch. Tribune Photo/BECKY MALEWITZ
Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, commander of the St. Joseph County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team, St. Joseph County Prosecutor, Ken Cotter and Sargent Corey Brothers of the St. Joseph County Police, discuss Tuesday’s fatal crash after a police pursue, during a press conference, Wednesday, February 8, two thousand seventeen in South Arch. Tribune Photo/BECKY MALEWITZ
Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, commander of the St. Joseph County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team, St. Joseph County Prosecutor, Ken Cotter and Sargent Corey Brothers of the St. Joseph County Police, discuss Tuesday’s fatal crash after a police pursue, during a press conference, Wednesday, February 8, two thousand seventeen in South Arch. Tribune Photo/BECKY MALEWITZ
SOUTH Arch — A stolen vehicle reached speeds of seventy five mph during a almost three-minute-long police pursue through a residential neighborhood Tuesday that ended when the vehicle crashed, killing a pair of teenage brothers and injuring two other boys.
At a Wednesday afternoon news conference, officials with the St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team named the boys who were killed and suggested fresh details on the high-speed pursue, which began after police spotted a stolen vehicle.
Samuel Phillips, 16, was identified as the driver of the stolen Toyota RAV4. Phillips and his brother, 15-year-old Jermaine Fleming, were killed in the crash. Two other teenagers, ages seventeen and 15, remained hospitalized in stable condition Wednesday.
The survivors were identified as 17-year-old Christian Harris, who suffered a head injury, and 15-year-old William Murray, who had numerous violated bones.
County Prosecutor Ken Cotter said neither of the surviving teenagers were likely to face criminal charges for their roles in the incident.
The RAV4 involved in the pursue was reported as stolen about four a.m. Tuesday from a residence on Vernerlee Lane, in the city’s northeast side.
The pursue began about Five:15 a.m., when South Arch police Officer Nathan Gates spotted the RAV4 in the one thousand five hundred block of Lincoln Way West. Gates attempted to stop the vehicle at Brookfield Street and Elwood Avenue, but the driver failed to stop.
The pursue reached high speeds as Phillips drove north on Brookfield, west on Bergan Street, south on Olive Street and east on Humboldt Street. The RAV4 crashed into a tree at Humboldt and College streets.
Officials at Wednesday’s news conference said Gates and other involved officers acted decently via the pursue.
"This goes without telling this was a tragedy to everyone involved," said Prosecutor Ken Cotter, who oversees FACT, "but the officers had to do their job. The officers maintained decent decorum in the manner they were attempting to stop the vehicle."
The pursue took place along narrow residential streets and amid rainy conditions. However, Cotter said Gates deployed his sirens to warn bystanders. And Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer, who leads FACT, said Gates demonstrated "good restraint" by reaching a maximum speed of just sixty five mph, even however the RAV4 accelerated to seventy five mph at one point.
Other officers also attempted to end the pursue by deploying a "stop stick" along Olive Street in an attempt to deflate the RAV4’s tires, but Phillips went around the device.
It remained unclear Wednesday whether the circumstances of the pursue were consistent with the South Arch Police Department’s policy on vehicle pursuits.
A South Arch police spokesman, Lt. Gene Eyster, previously said the department has some general guidelines on pursuits, but the policy does not necessarily cover any given screenplay.
South Arch police officials did not emerge at the news conference. However, Chief Scott Ruszkowski later issued a statement telling the department would conduct an internal review of the case, per standard protocol.
Ruszkowski noted Gates stayed well behind the RAV4 for most of the crash, that there was little vehicle or pedestrian traffic in the area and that no officer’s vehicle came into contact with the fleeing vehicle. He also voiced condolences to the teenagers’ family.
The Tribune submitted a public records request late Tuesday afternoon for a copy of the department’s policies on vehicle pursues. City officials had yet to release those documents Wednesday afternoon.
