Here we go again! Did the office not see the child in the car? They had his information, why chase him. I am sorry but I just do not see where chasing someone ever ends good.

Blame the po-leece, he didn't have to drive off after being pulled over, he reached speeds of 100 mph, and HE knew his daughter was in the car. Stop it already...give me a break!

Why did they pull him over? Why didn't they make him get out of the car before going back to check his license? I don't blame the police - I just feel that with all the fatalities involved in chasing a criminal always ends bad. I am not talking about just Decatur, I watch these crazy chasing scenes carried out in other states.

Another thought, the police takes his car keys and what about pulling the police car, with lights flashing, at an angle in front of his vehicle so he can't move the car. I am not trying to present an argument, I am just saying, chasing a drunk or whatever - it is just not working.

Analytical

If the police officer had done the things that you suggested, there would have been others like you claiming that the officer was being too hard on the "stopee"

High speed police chases end in tragedy for innocent people all too often. This is not to detract blame from Johnson at all. That guy absolutely should not have been drinking and driving at all, let alone with his little girl in the vehicle. He definitely should not have run once he was pulled over.

However, the police are not completely blameless in this situation. It doesn't take a genius level of comprehension of tactics to figure out that a high speed police chase to apprehend a drunk person with a child in the car is probably not going to end well for anyone involved. The cop who pulled him over should have taken the keys, at the very least. When Johnson chose to run with his child in the vehicle, the deputies who decided to chase him should have taken into that into account before engaging in a high speed police chase. They had his personal info, so they could have easily found where he lives. They could have had an unmarked car follow him or have an officer follow him without police lights on at a slower, safer speed- let the guy think he got away and follow him home, then apprehend him there. Maybe had they chosen different tactics that poor little girl would not be an orphan now.

Turn the car off and take the keys....someone would have claimed that the little girl would have gotten cold.

Police don't pull in front of an offenders car so that they can be a target. They don't have crystal balls to tell them ahead of time iif someone is armed or not. Are we saying had they pulled in front of him that he could not go into reverse and then speed away? Stop it! Sure, maybe some better tactics could have been used. But the bottom line is, this guy chose to run, and to run with his child in the car. The deputies did use good judgement that no one is talking about and they stopped chasing. Problem is, he kept running. Just becuase they have his information, such as his address does not mean that that information is current and correct. Why didn't they take the keys during the stop? Who knows, maybe because it was freezing outside. The police initate traffic stops, they do not initiate chases, the traffic offender does. The girl Q is a little orphan now because of the actions of her dad, not the deputies. He sped away, he chose not to stop a second time, he chose to keep running when they terminated the chase. He chose to drink and drive.. That is why Q she is an orphan, because of the actions of her dad.

He became a target when he walked up to the window- not knowing if the man had a gun. I am all for the police doing their jobs. It just seems that some better ways could be taken - not just in this case. Thor, no one is asking you to agree, but when you just keep saying the same things over and over about these chases, it doesn't help anyone. Think about it, you sound intelligent - maybe there could be better ways. Just because the same thing is done over and over doesn't make it the best solution.

He became a target when he walked up to the window?That is a bit dissrespectful for our officers for you to say. So, he should just put hisself in front and be a better target. That way if he is in front, if the officer has to return fire it is right at the oncoming traffic. The officer should be in front because he is already a target. Hmmmm... There is a reason police don't pull in front, and I explained it. I say the same things over and over for the rest of the people (most not all) here blame the police for the chase. The police initiate traffic stops, they do not initiate chases, a traffic offender does. There I said it again. Because that is the way it is. No one here at least really wants to blame the guy that started it all...the revoked apparent DUI driver of who CHOSE to take off. Put the blame where it lies. It lies with the now deceased that cared nothing about anyone but hisself, and that includes his daughter. That is why I have repeated myself, for the bad guy in these situations gets way too much sympathy, the law enforcement way too much blame. When the police crash into someone in these cases, then I will blame them. If there is recklessness on the part of the police, I will blame them. But, even though I pointed out perhaps better tactics could have been used, the deputies at least terminated the chase. At least they chose to do that. Our officers are not on suicide missions, so to say they are already targets and pull in front of them is a bit ridiclious.

I am sorry you misunderstood me. I didn't mean while they were chasing him. I meant when they stopped him, instead of parking behind him. Pull the police car into a position to stop his getting away and then with the policeman out of the vehicle. I am never for the person being chased. I am for innocent people out on the roads that do not know what is going on until they are hit at a light or stop sign. Surely you can understand that. Police are always at risk of being shot - I certainly didn't say they should just go ahead and get killed. Please!

If he didn't care for the safety and welfare of his child what makes anyone think he cared about the welfare and safety of the officers involved ... So sad for all involved most especially the child. Whatever his problem was so sorry for the family and their loss ...

Why a high-speed chase when the officer was holding Mr. Johnson's drivers license in his hand ?? Duh! The deputies placed LC citizens at risk by driving as recklessly as the person they were pursuing. Don't get me wrong, I support our law enforcement, but at times question their tactics.

Hey, which one of you all is (or was) a police office or trooper or deputy? Just wondering since so many of you know exactly how this should have been handled.

At what point did the deputies stop the chase?

Hey Jesse, re-read the article...5th Paragraph/Sentence....

Quote: Authorities said the chase was called off before the crash was discovered.

Louise, did you think that the authorities maybe misleading you. WAS THE CHASE CALLED OFF AT CO. RD. 324 OR 331

Capt. Gary Scroggin should have some kind of procedure in place to avoid this fatal chase. WHO WERE THE DEPUTIES IN THIS FATAL CHASE?