Lima Police release in-car video fatal pursuit
7/30/2014LIMA, Ohio – After public outcry following a fatal police pursuit Friday, police released in-car video from the involved officer.
The 1-minute, 25-second video shows an officer waiting at a traffic light at 12:47 a.m. and then turning left onto East Kibby Street, at Mcpheron Avenue, to follow a van. The driver of the van speeds off, initiating a pursuit, and runs a red light at East Kibby and South Central Avenue.
The suspect vehicle, driven by a juvenile, struck another vehicle and Devontae Williams, 21, of Lima, was killed, police said. Mr. Williams was a passenger in the vehicle that was struck by the suspect vehicle. Mr. Williams was pronounced dead at St. Rita‘s Medical Center.
After the crash, the officer can be heard on video yelling for the suspects to get on the ground. At least two people got out of the van and got onto the road.
Police released the video today because “there is a lot of speculation about what occurred during this incident,” according to a post on the department's Facebook page.
Lima police Sgt. Andy Green, the department's spokesman, was not available for comment.