Mashpee police investigating high-speed pursuit
Mashpee police are withholding comment on their decision to engage in a chase over moving violations that led to a crash that killed three people, at a time when many departments have backed away from high-speed pursuits.
“We are in the early stages of what is going to be a comprehensive and thorough investigation into our involvement of the facts and circumstances leading up to this terrible tragedy,” police Chief Scott Carline said in a statement about Saturday’s crash, which killed the driver they were pursuing, Mickey Rivera, 22, of Fall River and the driver of the SUV he hit head-on, Kevin Quinn, the father of a newborn daughter. Rivera’s passenger, Jocelyn Goyette, 24, of New Bedford, was critically injured and reportedly died yesterday.
Mashpee police audio indicates a fast pursuit after the officer reported erratic driving and stop sign violations.
Officer: “Attempting to stop a vehicle. I’m on Route 28, entering the rotary. Mass. passenger Charlie over India 5640. Two occupants. Heading down 28 toward Barnstable.”
Headquarters: “Reason for the stop ... (brief silence) ... Reason for the stop, (Officer’s name).”
Officer: “Sorry, sir, erratic operation, speeding, marked lanes, multiple stop sign violations at this time. … My speed is 65. He’s now passing vehicles on Route 28.”
Headquarters: “You can continue.”
Officer: “Vehicle has now entered Barnstable. … Vehicle has left the roadway and has crashed . ... Send rescue . ... We need multiple rescue units.”
Saturday’s crash “clearly demonstrates the risks involved in a pursuit,” said Dennis Kenney, a former Florida cop who teaches at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. “Only a couple of things can happen once a pursuit begins, and most of them are bad. Departments have asked themselves is it worth it for a traffic infraction, and usually the answer is no.”
Boston Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police discourage pursuits. BPD’s policy bars pursuits unless the fleeing suspect is armed or otherwise “poses an ongoing, immediate threat of serious bodily harm or death.”
Local cases that led to deaths include:
• In May 2007, Javier Morales, 29, hit a cab while fleeing police, killing cab passenger Paul Farris and injuring driver Walid Chahine and passenger Katelyn Hoyt.
• In October 2006, Daniel Rodriguez, 17, slammed into a tree in Roslindale during a high-speed chase, killing his friend Jeffrey Martinez, 15.