Police Chase Ends With Suspect’s Car Slamming into a Home & Landing on a Sleeping Man
- Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:52am by
Billy Hallowell
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. (The Blaze/AP) — It’s a wild scene in New Haven, Connecticut, this morning. A five-mile police chase ended early Tuesday when the suspect’s car slammed into a house. But that’s not all. After hitting the private home, the vehicle came to rest inside a bedroom and on top of a sleeping man.
The tenant, 34-year-old Michael Sweat, was pinned under the vehicle for about an hour while firefighters worked to free him, New Haven Police Officer David Hartman said. He suffered burns, but his injuries were not life-threatening, authorities said.
The chase began in Hamden at about 12:30 a.m., after officers spotted the vehicle and determined the driver was wanted for motor-vehicle violations, Hartman said.
The officers tried stopping the SUV, a BMW X5, but the driver led them on a pursuit through the Southern Connecticut State University campus and into New Haven.
Hamden police dispatchers notified New Haven police, and told them officers had tried to stop the vehicle using “stop sticks,” which the suspect swerved to avoid, Hartman said.
The suspect lost control in New Haven’s Newhallville neighborhood, slamming into a corner house. The BMW crashed through the home’s facade, ending up fully within a first-floor bedroom and on top of Sweat, who was asleep in his bed, Hartman said.
The suspect fled the scene.
With Sweat pinned under the car, firefighters assessed the home’s structural integrity and used “manual and pneumatic tools and timber to shore up the BMW and the home itself,” Hartman said in a release. The process took about an hour, during which time Sweat received ongoing medical attention from paramedics and a doctor.
Once freed, Sweat was taken to a waiting ambulance and transported to a hospital. He suffered second- and third-degree burns to his buttocks and lower extremities, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening, Hartman said.
New Haven Firefighters, police and city building inspectors were expected to remain at the scene for the several hours while the BMW was being removed from the home.
Police have asked the Connecticut State Police to help with the investigation.
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cranberry
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:39pmSo glad the guy lived so he can make sure this driver is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This is a case for special $ awarded also for pain and suffering if i’ve ever seen it.
Report Post »Homeschoolmama
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 1:14pmWhat are “motor vehicle violations”? Parking tickets? Tickets from unconstitutional red light cameras? Unpaid traffic tickets? This deserves a high speed chase?
Report Post »bigfatslob
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:35amI totally can’t believe all the FRUIT LOOPS on here blaming the police. and like we should forever give blacks affirmative action cause its our fault their great great great great grandparents were slaves, its our fault that 911 happened, and its our fault that the world is poor.
Report Post »Sometimes cops are bad BUT enforcing the law and a vehicle chase in this case was not one of them.
palmettopalflorida
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:07amIn the end Michael Sweat’s home will probably be condemned, he’ll be thrown out on the street and the property sold for a contribution to the Police Benevolence Association, with the offending officer(s) commended for their perseverance. Later Sweat will find himself in civil court for non-payment of his medical bills, the expense of the paramedics, the wrecker service and the police overtime needed to come to his personal aid. Not to worry. The BMW, which has already been confiscated, will be repaired as a daily driver for some senior police official, or his wife(?).
Report Post »bigfatslob
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:28am“Offending officers”. hey dude, go to Hufpo.
Report Post »texasfireguy
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:02amSo moron, in your long winded rant, did you ever once to think to place any blame on the only person who deserves it, THE DRIVER of the BMW. I cant believe all the idiots in here, lating all the blame on the cops. Typical of the America of today, place everyone BUT the criminal. Heck, everyone is a victim now right? The only person at fault here, is the guy who ran from the law, period.
Report Post »Tom K
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 3:19pm@PALMETTOPALFLORIDA: Too much “ yankee ” influence on your police force. Further North – same State, the driver of the BMW would be caught at the scene or quickly thereafter and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. If he made it to Georgia or Alabama, deadly force might be imposed on this domestic terrorist. Back in North Florida, he would “ work for ” Mister Sweat until restitution was fully paid, if it took all of his miserable life. Now up in Connecticut they have a dangerous idiot at large and the whole community is STILL unsafe. Hang ‘em, Hang ‘em high !
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:19amAll kidding aside, this is becoming more and more frequent. What I would like to know is what is happening to these people that are doing this? Do they get a slap on the hand, are they doing hard time for putting other peoples lives at risk? I bet the guy in the house thought he was having a heck of a nighmare when he realized what was going on. Thank God it was not his time to go yet.
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:42amNothing like risking the lives of others because the drive had “motor-vehicle violations”. Are you freaking kidding Me! All common sense and logic has left this country and has been replaced with a police state and a bunch of morons running it.
Report Post »texasfireguy
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:03amSo what are the police supposed to do, ignore it? If they did, people like you would be bitchin that they arent doing their jobs and should be enforcing the laws.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:31amThe suspect fled the scene? Well, go after the SOB!
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:27amBig landscaping rocks are a good ideal. They make decorative vehicle barriers.
Report Post »Artisan
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:23amYou would think with all the unmanned drones, helicopters, and cameras every where we wouldn’t need to chase anyone anymore. Just fly above the perps car until he/she pulls into their own drive way or runs out of gas. Then send in the foot patrols that still should follow at a distance. High speed chases with todays technology is not being very creative.
I can’t wait to hear the reason this guy ran. Im sure it’s the classic case. He came from a single parent home in a rough neighborhood & was spanked by his grandmother. Also, he grew up eating free meals at school only on mondays through fridays and went hungry on the weekends.Therefore his brain didnt fully develope. In conclusion, the guy in the bed doing what he was suppose to do is at fault due to buying a house in that location & placing his bed there. Therefore the driver is the real victim here. “Eye roll” Im sure I wont be far off the mark. Please keep us posted.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:30amI doubt his grandmother spanked him. If she had, maybe he would have a little more respect for authority.
Report Post »OhioRifleman
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:18amI would report this crap, but it is too funny, especially the comments piling up below it. Blaze on!
Report Post »Artisan
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:10amLast time I saw a mouth like that, it had a hook in it.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:10am.
Report Post »FLOTUS is on that site wearing some of her new Leather Panties. I hear stories POTUS is hung like a white guy…………..
piper60
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:01amwhat color is the sun on your planet?
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:50amWhat, are you some kind of ******?
Report Post »Lee_in_PA
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:38amAnother reason why police should cut off high-speed chases after so many minutes. Some innocent person was sleeping, next thing the firemen are trying to lift a car from his chest, shore up his house so it won’t collapse and then try to rescue the guy.WHO is going to pay for the damages and repair to his house? He had nothing to do with this and yet he’s going to have to pay… cash for the house repair, time in the hospita, along with rehab, might not ever be the same as when he went to bed, and finally… going to need a lawyer to deal with all this.
SOMEONE needs to pay for this.. and it’s certainly not the guy in his bed. Please keep tabs on this story for us. Thank you.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:56amMost states and communities have victims fund that will help pay for the results of such crimes. Hopefully the real victim of this crime will be compensated properly. Beyond that, in some of these chases the cops should be more aggressive and stop these criminals before they can cause something like this. Yeah, easier said than done, but you just can’t have LE simply letting criminals go because they present a danger. Criminals present a multitude of dangers daily. Frankly, you are suggesting to let them go to not only do it again, but to encourage others to become just as dangerous simply because you can get away with it. Just hold the public at large hostage.
Report Post »texasfireguy
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:04amAmen RJ, well said.
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