07-17-2006, 05:12 PM
Quote:
Sheriff's deputy receives citation
SYLVIA LIM
Herald Staff Writer
MANATEE - Troopers on Friday ticketed a Manatee County sheriff's deputy for running a red light after he crashed into a civilian's vehicle during a high-speed chase last month.
Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Doug Dodson said investigators felt that even in an emergency, a law enforcement official must take into consideration the safety of others.
"We have to be reasonably safe when we enter an intersection even with lights and sirens on," Dodson said.
Sheriff's Deputy Joseph M. Petta and his canine remained on duty after he received the ticket, said Sheriff's Maj. Chuck Hagaman. The sheriff's office has launched a simultaneous internal investigation into the crash.
The sheriff's office's Traffic Crash Review Board will meet on Aug. 2 to determine if Petta violated any policies, Hagaman said. The FHP citation will not affect the internal investigation.
"They are separate. It is required by law to be separate," Hagaman said.
According to the sheriff's office policies, a deputy in a marked vehicle "shall not enter a controlled intersection against the directed flow of traffic at a speed greater than 15 mph, and the driver shall be sure that the cross-traffic flow has yielded in each lane before attempting to cross that lane."
During a chase, the policy spells out that "if the suspect accelerates and begins to operate in a more dangerous manner, the deputy shall terminate the pursuit."
On the evening of June 29, Petta chased a homeless man driving a stolen van down U.S. 41, heading south, according to the FHP and the sheriff's office.
The suspect in the van cleared the traffic light at the intersection of General Spaatz Boulevard and U.S. 41, near New College, according to an FHP report.
Petta, behind the stolen van, approached the intersection just as the light turned red for traffic on U.S. 41 and green for General Spaatz Boulevard, the report stated.
Leo S. Demski, 63, drove into the intersection from General Spaatz Boulevard, according to the report. Petta, with his emergency lights and siren on, drove in its path.
Demski, a marine biology professor at New College who had just finished teaching a course that evening, said he didn't see or hear anything before the crash.
Demski's vehicle hit the side of Petta's marked sport-utility vehicle, causing it to spin and overturn, the report stated. As the SUV flipped over, it hit a tree and continued to slide and slammed into a light pole.
"I looked out on the left side and saw the police SUV," Demski said. "I watched it, it seemed it took forever for it to spin around."
Both Demski and Petta suffered minor injuries from the crash and were taken to local hospitals, according to the FHP. The police dog was taken to a vet.
Petta was placed in sick leave after the crash, the sheriff's office said.
"The deputy and the dog were slightly injured, but both recovered and are back to duty," Hagaman said.
Three weeks later, after speaking to Demski and other witnesses, the FHP concluded that Petta ran the red light and cited him for it.
The citation carries a $118.50 fine, said FHP spokesman Lt. Doug Dodson.
Though he said the county compensated him fairly for his totaled vehicle and other items, Demski said he may consider filing a lawsuit if the crash results in further health issues for him.
A short time after the accident, officers arrested the driver of the van, Ronald L. Pendergrass, 54, in Sarasota County. He was charged with grand theft auto, fleeing to elude and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sheriff's deputy receives citation
SYLVIA LIM
Herald Staff Writer
MANATEE - Troopers on Friday ticketed a Manatee County sheriff's deputy for running a red light after he crashed into a civilian's vehicle during a high-speed chase last month.
Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Doug Dodson said investigators felt that even in an emergency, a law enforcement official must take into consideration the safety of others.
"We have to be reasonably safe when we enter an intersection even with lights and sirens on," Dodson said.
Sheriff's Deputy Joseph M. Petta and his canine remained on duty after he received the ticket, said Sheriff's Maj. Chuck Hagaman. The sheriff's office has launched a simultaneous internal investigation into the crash.
The sheriff's office's Traffic Crash Review Board will meet on Aug. 2 to determine if Petta violated any policies, Hagaman said. The FHP citation will not affect the internal investigation.
"They are separate. It is required by law to be separate," Hagaman said.
According to the sheriff's office policies, a deputy in a marked vehicle "shall not enter a controlled intersection against the directed flow of traffic at a speed greater than 15 mph, and the driver shall be sure that the cross-traffic flow has yielded in each lane before attempting to cross that lane."
During a chase, the policy spells out that "if the suspect accelerates and begins to operate in a more dangerous manner, the deputy shall terminate the pursuit."
On the evening of June 29, Petta chased a homeless man driving a stolen van down U.S. 41, heading south, according to the FHP and the sheriff's office.
The suspect in the van cleared the traffic light at the intersection of General Spaatz Boulevard and U.S. 41, near New College, according to an FHP report.
Petta, behind the stolen van, approached the intersection just as the light turned red for traffic on U.S. 41 and green for General Spaatz Boulevard, the report stated.
Leo S. Demski, 63, drove into the intersection from General Spaatz Boulevard, according to the report. Petta, with his emergency lights and siren on, drove in its path.
Demski, a marine biology professor at New College who had just finished teaching a course that evening, said he didn't see or hear anything before the crash.
Demski's vehicle hit the side of Petta's marked sport-utility vehicle, causing it to spin and overturn, the report stated. As the SUV flipped over, it hit a tree and continued to slide and slammed into a light pole.
"I looked out on the left side and saw the police SUV," Demski said. "I watched it, it seemed it took forever for it to spin around."
Both Demski and Petta suffered minor injuries from the crash and were taken to local hospitals, according to the FHP. The police dog was taken to a vet.
Petta was placed in sick leave after the crash, the sheriff's office said.
"The deputy and the dog were slightly injured, but both recovered and are back to duty," Hagaman said.
Three weeks later, after speaking to Demski and other witnesses, the FHP concluded that Petta ran the red light and cited him for it.
The citation carries a $118.50 fine, said FHP spokesman Lt. Doug Dodson.
Though he said the county compensated him fairly for his totaled vehicle and other items, Demski said he may consider filing a lawsuit if the crash results in further health issues for him.
A short time after the accident, officers arrested the driver of the van, Ronald L. Pendergrass, 54, in Sarasota County. He was charged with grand theft auto, fleeing to elude and possession of drug paraphernalia.