Breaking Down Police Chases in the Red River Valley

Police chases in the metro have been dominating news headlines lately.

When a police officer pulls you over, following orders isn’t just the law but also common sense.

Yet, throughout the metro police chases are on the rise.

I spoke with Fargo Police who tell me many times police decide not even to pursue a suspect weighing public safety above everything else.
 
Police chases have been filling the headlines.

Yesterday a chase in Grand Forks, last week a slow pursuit down Main Avenue and Barnesville Police reached speeds of 100 miles per hour just two weeks ago.
 
“It seems foolish to make that decision for a relatively minor traffic offense,” says Lt. Michael Mitchell with Fargo Police.
 
Often these high-speed pursuits stem from minor infractions.
 
“The majority of time that people do that they have the suspended drivers license or no insurance or something relatively minor,” says Lt. Mitchell.
 
But as soon as the foot hits the gas, those minor offenses are out the window.
 
“If you stole something and you’re trying to run away with stolen property or if you have a potential DUI those might be lesser charges than the ones you find yourself charged with for fleeing,” says Cass County State Attorney, Birch Burdick.
 
Charges for running include fleeing from an officer and reckless endangerment.

Depending on the case, you could face a felony which could land you in jail for up to five years.
 
“Reckless endangerment doesn’t necessarily mean you harm someone. Just the possibility can get you the charge.”
 
The decision to pursue a suspect is a decision Fargo Police take very seriously.
 
“Allowing the person to go and creating less of a risk to the public then often times we make that decision,” says Lt. Mitchell.
 
Letting them go at the moment but not for long.
 
“Now with our radio technologies and our video cameras in the car often times we’ll allow that person to get away that particular night and go arrest them at their home the next day,” says Lt. Mitchell.
 
“There are lots of officers out there, they radio to one another, and you’re going to be found,” says Burdick.
 
Lt. Mitchell tells me Fargo Police haven’t seen a rise in police pursuits.

However he says that could be due to the fact Fargo has a strict chase policy.