There are states in which it is illegal for law enforcement to conduct high-speed chases in residential areas. Tragically for the family and friends of Latia Winchester, there’s no such law in North Carolina. As a result, Ms. Winchester, 25, was killed Saturday night at Parkwood Ave. and N. Davidson St. when her car was slammed into by a car, driven by Eddie Ellison, 41, who sped through a stoplight. A N.C. Highway Patrol cruiser was chasing Ellison at high speed after Ellison had turned around and driven away rather than go through a highway patrol checkpoint.
Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. J.E. Brewer says HP policy is to pursue any cars that make U-turns at a checkpoint: “It’s our experience that when a person stops, turns and leaves a check station, they’re engaged in some type of violation.” The “violation” in this case was that Ellison was driving with a revoked license, as well as … well, as well as nothing. No guns, no drugs, no nothing, not even an open beer can. And now a young woman who had absolutely nothing to do with any of this has had her life cut short because a Highway Patrol checkpoint went awry. This is more than tragic, it’s just plain stupid.
Maybe if HP officers were trained better in the differences between population density in urban areas and, say, Chickenscratch, N.C., Ms. Winchester would still be with us. Yes, it was Ellison who crashed into Winchester’s car; but how many criminals have you ever heard of who stop to check to see if anything’s coming at an intersection during a chase? It’s up to law enforcement officers to be the responsible adults in such situations, and in this case, the HP utterly failed.
Ellison has been arrested and charged with, among other things, involuntary manslaughter, as he should be. In some states, the officer driving the patrol cruiser would be charged, too, as he/she also should be. At the very least, Highway Patrol policy needs to be changed. Maybe it makes sense for the HP to chase down checkpoint U-turners when they’re in a low-density area, but in Belmont/NoDa at 10 on Saturday night? Even if Ellison had been carrying a kilo of heroin and a couple of AK-47s, it would not have been worth one innocent civilian’s life to chase him down, considering the risk involved in conducting such a chase in the middle of the city. It shouldn’t take the death of an innocent young woman to prompt some common sense from the Highway Patrol.
This article appears in Mar 16-22, 2010.
Great article and glad this was said. Apparently people don’t quite understand just how dangerous the Highway Patrol is and how out of control they truly are. They have no business setting up checkpoints in the city limits.
The important take away from this tragedy is that it could have been avoided. No, not by Ellison having a valid license and not fleeing, but by the Highway Patrol giving chase knowing that when they do….IONNOCENT PEOPLE DIE. Yes, that’s right! Don’t think they are not to blame because they are! Overzealous, over-reaching, above-the-law mentality runs rampant in the NC Highway Patrol. Yet, look at the gleaming record of late with most of these so-called elete of law enforcement. Sex scandals and violations of the law left and right. It is truly sickening.
Making a U-turn is not against the law. Doing so to ‘avoid a checkpoint’ is also not illegal. Even saying it’s probably cause to jump into a patrol car and burn tires to give chase is highly questionable. Then people speed, the Highway Patrol speeds, and people die. Innocent people.
The state of North Carolina should change it’s laws immediately concerning pursuits by law enforcement and take a hard look at it’s own Highway Patrol. These neanderthals are an embarrassment to the state itself.
The family of this poor girl who lost her life should consider immediate legal action against the Highway Patrol. I would rally and lobby and raise complete Hell if I were them. This has got to stop. Don’t be simplistic and stupid by saying “they shouldn’t run from the police”. Give me a break. Be smarter than this people!
John Grooms made some very valid points and should make everyone think about this. The Highway Patrol thinks they have no limits and are above the law and can make it up as they go. They are the scurge of this state and have blood on their hands. This poor girl is now their latest victim.
Griffin, read the friggin article again. Grooms isn’t saying that cops should never be able to chase. In fact, he’s damned specific: ” Maybe it makes sense for the HP to chase down checkpoint U-turners when they’re in a low-density area, but in Belmont/NoDa at 10 on Saturday night? ” The whole article is about outlawing high-speed chases in hi-density residential areas. Can’t you friggin read? God-DAMN, you’re an idiot.
I hate the damn Highway Patrol to begin with. I was victimized by one of them a few years back and thank God it ended in disciplinary action and having that SOB move to some far away county in nowhereland.
This woman is dead because of the North Carolina Highway Patrol. They should be ashamed and punished for what they’ve done.
No, they should not. There is plenty of blame to go to the HP as well. Life can be fair, thanks to our attorneys!
According to the Charlotte Observer “Ellison is charged with eight crimes in connection with the wreck: involuntary manslaughter, speeding to elude, hit and run, speeding 90 mph in 35 mph zone, driving while his license was revoked, carrying a concealed weapon, resisting officers and assault on a government official.”
So his crimes at the time of making his U-turn were a revoked license and a concealed weapon… Then it snowballed into the other crimes. So there was a reason to chase him (having a concealed weapon). You have to let law enforcement actually enforce laws.
Tommy, sorry but you are wrong. Saying that there was ‘a reason to chase him (having a concealed weapon)’ is ridiculous. They did not know that when the chase ensued unless they had x-ray vision at long distance. Give me a break.
The PROBABLE CAUSE to pursue must be justified based on a factual, not presumed, violation. The thuggish dogs in the Highway Patrol say that it’s because the driver made a U turn to evade the check point. A disgusting lie that should be used against them in court. U-turns are not illegal unless posted, which this was NOT.
The HP is known for their overzealous and fictious reasons for pulling people over in general. Some have challeged these illegal stops and won – big time.
It’s just like any other criminal case. Probably cause is more than just a technicality and the Police and Highway Patrol have made it into something they think they can simply make up to justify their actions. People are smarter than this and it’s a good thing that now things are beginning to backfire as the public is sick of this type of out of control behavior by law enforcement.
Frank Griffin can go straight to hell along with the Highway Patrol that he loves so much! Things won’t turn out fine in this case until they strip that silly damn badge from every one of those patrolmen, then charge them in a court of law for manslaughter. Our system is flawed and the state needs to change its laws concerning this immediately.
The Highway Patrol and their badges: silly symbols that respresent lies and internal criminal activity that are shoved in the faces of people daily. Truly sickening.
Mark, a car making a U-turn is highly illegal unless made at an intersection, which it does not seem actually happened. From the information at hand the person simply turned when they saw the checkpoint and ran from the police. THAT is pretty good evidence of probable cause. But I suppose in your world just picking and choosing which laws to abide is ok. It is only when the police actually enforce the laws that it is an issue. And it isn’t like these checkpoints are a new fangled thing, these checkpoints have been happening for years all over the country and I have seen many cars try to make a break away from the checkpoints and get caught when they run. If you are running from the cops it may not be probable cause, but it is a damned good cause.
Rosa, please say something that makes sense or nothing at all. Such insensitive remarks are better left unsaid. If you can’t speak inetlligently on such a serious matter it is better that you not speak at all.