Police Pursuit Ends In Building Collapse And Pedestrian Death, Sparks Debate On Chases

Today, the Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General released video of a fatal crash that took place on February 8th. A 54-year-old pedestrian named Alfred Fincher died when a fleeing suspect in a Hyundai Sonata collided with another vehicle and both ultimately hit him. Police say the investigation of the incident, which brought down a building corner onto the individuals involved is continuing.

Included in the videos released today are closed-circuit cameras at the intersection where the incident happened and body cameras worn by the officers involved. They show the moments before the accident as Baltimore Police officers are chasing the driver of a reportedly stolen black Sonata down the road.

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The Hyundai flies down North Wolfe St and slams into a Mitsubishi Eclipse as it’s entering the intersection at North Ave. The two cars are forced onto the curb where the cars strike the pedestrian before hitting the corner of an abandoned two-story brick building.

Almost immediately, the corner of the building crumples and falls on top of the man, and both cars. Fincher was pronounced dead at the scene and the drivers of both vehicles were taken to the hospital with injuries. Police later arrested the driver of the Hyundai, Shawn Lee Brunson, 33, on vehicle theft charges.

Questions About Police Pursuits

The incident has brought to light police policies regarding when to chase suspects and when to let them flee without pursuit. Divya Potdar, an attorney representing Fincher’s surviving family blames the police department for his death. “The officer did not break off the pursuit, and Alfred Fincher is dead,” she said.

For its part, the police department’s deputy commissioner says that he didn’t believe that officers “pursued” the Sonata. He claims that they attempted to stop the car but when it didn’t pull over, officers followed it which explains why they show up so quickly in the video after the crash itself.

According to the Baltimore Sun, officers can’t pursue a car if the initial violation is a “crime against property” which auto theft is. However, they can go after a fleeing vehicle with a felony suspect who poses an “immediate threat”. The incident is still under investigation.

Warning: The video below contains footage of a crash that resulted in the death of a pedestrian.

Image Credit: WJZ13