Police Chase Ends In Crash; Officer In Critical Condition

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- City police are involved in a crash following a pursuit with a suspect in Baltimore City.

Rochelle Ritchie has the latest on the investigation.

It was a terrible crash. Baltimore City police say the man who was driving the scooter is in stable condition but with serious injuries. They say the three officers who were injured were told 15 seconds prior to the accident to stop chasing.

This is the aftermath of a serious crash involving a Baltimore City police cruiser and a scooter.

"It was very graphic," said Dep. Comm. Jerry Rodriguez.

Baltimore police say around 12:45 Sunday afternoon, an officer noticed a group of people in an alley standing near dirtbikes. The group quickly took off, one man on foot.

"Shortly thereafter, the officer observed the individual that was running on foot hop on the back of the scooter. The scooter was then used to assist this individual in fleeing from the officers," Rodriguez said.

The officer lost sight of the scooter's driver. A short time later, another unit saw the scooter and pursued the driver.

"The scooter, as it attempted to flee, made a hard right turn into what would have been an alley cutting the police vehicle off, which resulted in the collision on a telephone pole," Rodriguez said.

Witnesses to the accident say it was so severe that the man on the scooter was pinned between the utility pole and the front of the cruiser.

"We thought he was dead but he started moving after maybe a couple seconds," said a witness.

Police say it's still early in the investigation but they have a number of questions.

"We want to know why the decision was made, why it was made," Rodriguez said.

Baltimore City police say they have a strict policy when it comes to pursuing individuals but there are occasions when officers are allowed to chase.

Police have not said if the operator of the scooter will face any charges.

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