So I was sitting at an intersection last night. I look across and see headlights dip and a car go sideways a bit and then BAM, it plowed into back of car in front of it. My green arrow comes and I go left and pull up and stop to see if all is well. Roll down my windows and can hear driver of car that hit other saying 'I'm sorry I'm sorry, my brakes, my brakes!' Driver of car that got hit I guess took this as a sign it was ok and he went to his passenger side and entered vehicle to open glove box. I'm seeing the hitter backing up toward his car and hollar get his plate cus he's leaving! No sooner said than sure enough guy hope back in and flies around the car he hit and blows by me. So I'm like...crap! I floor it and follow him.
Call 911:
This is what happened.
Hello yes I'm following a car that has just left scene of an accident please help!
Ok, calm down, what's the plate? What kind of car?
I tell them as I'm calling out my location saying can you get someone to come help me?
Sir calm down! (ok I was a bit amped)
I again say are there units in area that can help me and stop this guy?
What are you doing now?
???? I'm following him dammit, come help me!
You dont know if he has any weapons, we know who he is now, stop following him!
???. Um...ok...that was a risk I was willing to take, ARE YOU SENDING HELP TO ARREST THIS GUY!!!!!
You don't know if registered owner of vehicle is the one driving or not. Come get him!
Sir I'm ordering you to stop following him and break off the chase!!!
My last statement to them:
This is stupid! Im following a hit and run suspect I must have already passed ten units, sorry to disturb you!!!! Call me if you want a statement!
Stories over. Ok you have to understand here in SoFla we are inundated with police. You cannot drive one mile and not pass five of them. To not want to come offer assistance and arrest him I just don't understand?
Some may ask, well why didn't you make a citizens arrest on him. I thought about it.
But this is where knowledge of laws comes into play. Leaving the scene of an accident where injuries or death happen is a felony but leaving the scene of an accident with no injuries is only a misdemeanor.
I would have been within my right to do something to a fleeing felon but not one committing a misdemeanor. Most likely would myself have gone to jail for aggravated assault with a firearm and been looking at a mandatory three years it convicted.
So opinions?
Should the cops have come helped me? We are driving down three lanes of open traffic.
Would have been easy it seemed?
Call 911:
This is what happened.
Hello yes I'm following a car that has just left scene of an accident please help!
Ok, calm down, what's the plate? What kind of car?
I tell them as I'm calling out my location saying can you get someone to come help me?
Sir calm down! (ok I was a bit amped)
I again say are there units in area that can help me and stop this guy?
What are you doing now?
???? I'm following him dammit, come help me!
You dont know if he has any weapons, we know who he is now, stop following him!
???. Um...ok...that was a risk I was willing to take, ARE YOU SENDING HELP TO ARREST THIS GUY!!!!!
You don't know if registered owner of vehicle is the one driving or not. Come get him!
Sir I'm ordering you to stop following him and break off the chase!!!
My last statement to them:
This is stupid! Im following a hit and run suspect I must have already passed ten units, sorry to disturb you!!!! Call me if you want a statement!
Stories over. Ok you have to understand here in SoFla we are inundated with police. You cannot drive one mile and not pass five of them. To not want to come offer assistance and arrest him I just don't understand?
Some may ask, well why didn't you make a citizens arrest on him. I thought about it.
But this is where knowledge of laws comes into play. Leaving the scene of an accident where injuries or death happen is a felony but leaving the scene of an accident with no injuries is only a misdemeanor.
I would have been within my right to do something to a fleeing felon but not one committing a misdemeanor. Most likely would myself have gone to jail for aggravated assault with a firearm and been looking at a mandatory three years it convicted.
So opinions?
Should the cops have come helped me? We are driving down three lanes of open traffic.
Would have been easy it seemed?