News
Stop Stick®Hit of the Month May 2024: Racine County Sheriff’s Office [WI]
August 6, 2024
By: Zach Madden
Category: Stop Stick Hit of the Month
Stop Stick® Heroes: May 2024 Hit of the Month
Read about the exceptional police officers who used Stop Sticks® to safely end pursuits in May
“Hit of the Month” is Stop Stick, Ltd.’s program to recognize truly outstanding performance results coming from the successful deployment of Stop Stick® Tire Deflation Device in ending pursuits. Every month hundreds of reports are received from across the country documenting successful deployments of Stop Sticks®. These reports detail stories of exceptional police work and proper deployment of the Stop Stick® Tire Deflation Device to bring pursuits to an end safely. Below are the departments that were nominated from the hundreds of submissions, and the ones who have been selected as the “Hit of the Month”.
Winner:
Midwest
Racine County Sheriff’s Office
Racine, Wisconsin
- # of Cars Deployed on: 1
- # of Tires Deflated: 2 (R/Front), (R/Rear)
- Device: Stop Stick®
- Pursuit Speed: 120+ mph
- Time of Pursuit: 4 minutes
- Miles Traveled After Deployment: 2
- Target Vehicle Make: 2021 Toyota Highlander
- Deploying Officer(s): Deputy Samuel Harrington
Racine County Deputy Ends Violent Suspects Ubar Trip with Stop Stick® After Suspect Decides He Wants to Drive.
Racine County, Wisconsin -Racine County Sheriff Deputies proved to be instrumental in assisting law enforcement agencies to bring a safe end to a 120+ MPH pursuit after intervening with Stop Stick.
Deputies from the Racine County Sheriff’s office were dispatched to assist with a pursuit that took place the evening of May 6th. Officers responded to a desperate call after the suspect had stabbed and carjacked an Uber driver.
Responding deputies quickly located the stolen vehicle and attempted to stop the vehicle. Showing no signs of compliance, the suspect sped away from deputies and pushed the stolen SUV to the limits rapidly accelerating up to 120+ MPH forcing all pursuing units to follow with caution.
While responding deputies attempted a traffic stop on the stolen vehicle Deputy Harrington positioned himself ahead at a highway entrance ramp with Stop Sticks at the ready, it was that tactical deployment that would prove to be the lynchpin to ending the pursuit quickly and safely.
As the suspect pulled away from the initial traffic stop at high speeds the Stolen Vehicle ran over Deputy Harrington’s Stop Sticks resulting in 2 flat tires, causing the suspect’s speeds to drastically reduce to below 50 MPH giving pursuing units the opening they needed to put an end to the pursuit with an intervention maneuver.
Left with nowhere to run, the suspect surrendered to law enforcement and was safely taken into custody without any further incident.
The suspect is now facing several charges including Reckless Endangerment, Fleeing and eluding, Theft, and attempted homicide.
Supporting News Article:
- https://www.cbs58.com/news/chicago-man-arrested-in-racine-county-accused-of-stabbing-uber-driver-and-leading-high-speed-pursuit
- https://wtmj.com/news/2024/05/07/watch-racine-county-deputies-halt-speeder-accused-of-stabbing-carjacking-madison-uber-driver/#:~:text=%E2%80%94%20Deputies%20and%20assisting%20law%20enforcement,the%20Racine%20County%20Sheriff’s%20Office.
Nominees
South
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Ottawa, Kansas
- # of Cars Deployed on: 1
- # of Tires Deflated: 3 (R/Front),(L/Front), (R/Rear)
- Device: Stop Stick®
- Pursuit Speed: 61-70 mph
- Time of Pursuit: 24 minutes
- Miles Traveled After Deployment: <1
- Target Vehicle Make: 2016 Marerati
- Deploying Officer(s): Sergeant Hunter Dryden
Franklin Co. Deputy Helps end a Late-Night Pursuit with 3 Minors in the car
Franklin County, Kansas – A dangerous high-speed chase came to a safe conclusion thanks to the strategic deployment of Stop Sticks®.
On Wednesday, May 29th, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office initiated a pursuit after a vehicle refused to stop for a traffic violation near mile marker 165 on I-35. The suspect vehicle led authorities on a high-speed chase through multiple jurisdictions before finally entering rural Franklin County.
To safely terminate the pursuit Sgt. Dryden, from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, successfully deployed Stop Sticks®, bringing the vehicle to a stop less than a mile after the deployment.
Upon inspection, three juveniles were found inside the vehicle. The driver, Carlos M. Gonzalez, and passenger, Mary I. Walker both had active arrest warrants and will face more charges stemming from this pursuit including 3 counts of aggravated endangering a child, driving with a suspended license, and interference with law enforcement.
The swift action of law enforcement prevented further escalation of the situation and resulted in the safe recovery of three juveniles who were passengers in the suspect vehicle. The driver and a passenger were arrested on multiple charges, including fleeing and endangering the welfare of a child.
This incident highlights the crucial role Stop Sticks® plays in protecting public safety and ensuring the safe apprehension of dangerous suspects.
Supporting News Article:
East
Northwest Regional Police
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
- # of Cars Deployed on: 1
- # of Tires Deflated: 2 (R/Front), (R/Rear)
- Device Used: Stop Stick®
- Pursuit Speed: 120+ mph
- Time of Pursuit: 22 minutes
- Miles Traveled After Deployment: 5
- Target Vehicle Make: 2018 Chevy Camaro
- Deploying Officer: Officer Chris Good
Stop Sticks End High-Speed Chase, Suspect Arrested.
Northwest Regional Police Department successfully deployed Stop Sticks® to end a dangerous high-speed pursuit involving a stolen Chevy Camaro. The incident unfolded on 5/12 when officers attempted to stop a stolen vehicle. The driver refused to yield, leading police on a chase that reached speeds exceeding 120 mph.
Officer Chris Good’s strategic deployment of Stop Sticks® effectively disabled the suspect vehicle by flattening two tires, significantly reducing the pursuit speed. The suspect eventually surrendered after the vehicle became undrivable.
The apprehended individual faces charges of receiving stolen property and possession of criminal instruments.
This successful use of Stop Sticks® highlights their crucial role in ensuring public safety and aiding law enforcement in apprehending dangerous suspects.
West
San Pablo Police Department
San Pablo, California
- # of Cars Deployed on: 1
- # of Tires Deflated on: (L/Front), (R/Rear)
- Device Used: Stop Stick®
- Pursuit Speed: 0-10 mph
- Time of Pursuit: 14 minutes
- Miles Traveled After Deployment: 3 miles
- Target Vehicle Make: 2021 Kia K5
- Deploying Officer(s): Officer T. Huckabee, Sgt. A. Ragsdale
Stop Sticks End Wild DUI Chase in San Pablo, Driver Switch Suspected
A chaotic chase involving a pair of suspected drunk drivers in San Pablo ended with a successful deployment of Stop Sticks®, putting a stop to the dangerous situation.
According to the San Pablo Police Department, officers initiated a pursuit of a vehicle suspected of driving under the influence on 5/18. The chase quickly turned reckless, with the driver reaching speeds exceeding 60 mph and endangering the safety of others after nearly hitting several cars head-on.
Stop Sticks Safely Intervene
Officer Brandon Oswald of the San Pablo Police Department, prioritizing public safety, strategically deployed Stop Sticks® to safely disable the fleeing vehicle. This controlled intervention prevented further escalation of the chase and minimized the risk of injuries or property damage.
Investigation Uncovers Potential Driver Switch
Following the successful use of Stop Sticks®, authorities apprehended the vehicle occupants. However, the investigation has taken a surprising turn. Police are now looking into reports that the driver switched places with the passenger during the chase.
Supporting News Article:
https://hoodline.com/2024/05/san-pablo-police-chase-features-dui-suspects-swap-at-the-wheel-and-spike-strip-escape-attempt/
https://stopstick.com/san-pablo-police-use-stop-sticks-to-pursue-dui-suspects/
To register for Stop Stick® Hit of the Month, please submit a Deployment Report using the Link: https://stopstick.com/deployment-report/
You can be considered for Video of the year by uploading Dashcam, or Bodycam footage after submitting your Deployment Report.
If you know an officer who should be nominated for Hit of the Month please submit a pursuit report: https://stopstick.com/home/pursuit-reporting