Police pursuits prompt quick decisions from law enforcement agencies

Multiple Mid-Missouri law enforcement agencies were involved in two separate high speed pursuits that both ended in Cole County Friday, January 8.

Detective Tom O’Sullivan with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department said there are many factors deputies and officers must weigh on whether to begin a pursuit.

These variables include things such as weather conditions and time of day, as well as the suspect law enforcement is pursuing and what they are possibly wanted for.

“You have a criminal operating a vehicle many times at a high rate of speed,” he said. “That potentially can be dangerous and we have to weigh all that in our decision whether or not to pursue a vehicle.”

O’Sullivan said if deputies have confirmed the identity of the suspect they are pursing, sometimes they will terminate the chase if they believe they can arrest the suspect later in a less dangerous way.

The Columbia Police Department has a 12 page policy and procedure manual for vehicle pursuits.

According to the policy manual, the overall department policy is to “stress a common sense balance between the importance of apprehending offenders and the high risk nature of vehicle pursuits.”

CPD limits chases to three officer vehicles unless more units are requested.

Det. O’Sullivan said too many officers or deputies involved in a pursuit can be dangerous, but he said it could also be beneficial when the chase continues into other counties.

“It helps when we’re pursing a vehicle and you have these other law enforcement agencies that are waiting for that chase to come through their jurisdiction,” he said. ‘So many times if you can get more officers toward a pursuit, it will end quicker and without anybody getting hurt.”

Similar to the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, CPD officers weigh several factors when deciding to start or continue a pursuit.

“Officers and supervisors must objectively and continuously weigh the seriousness of the offense against the potential danger to innocent motorists, themselves and the public when electing to continue a pursuit,” according to the manual.

Both high speed chases on January 8 ended in arrests.

Turner Murrell, 25, was arrested and charged Friday with stealing a motor vehicle and resisting arrest. According to the Cole County Sheriff’s Department, Murrell was wanted on a burglary charge. He lead deputies on a chase through the county that eventually ended when he crashed into a fence in Osage Bend. He is currently in the Cole County Jail without bond.

In a separate vehicle pursuit, law enforcement arrested Roosevelt Easley, 30, in Jefferson City after fleeing from authorities in Columbia. Easley has been charged in both Boone and Cole County for a number of charges including resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence and driving with a suspended license. He is currently in the Boone County Jail with a $152,250 bond.