Shaq chases down driver, alerts police

**Star Man** · 01-29-07, 12:37 AM

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6420058?MSNHPHMA

Shaq chases down driver, alerts police
/ Associated Press
Posted: 1 hour ago

MIAMI (AP) - Shaquille O'Neal put his police skills to use early Sunday.

O'Neal, the Miami Heat's All-Star center and a reserve officer with the Miami Beach Police Department, followed a driver who allegedly crashed into his Cadillac Escalade and tried to flee the scene, the team said.

O'Neal and bodyguard Jerome Crawford followed the driver for about five minutes. When the driver, identified by The Miami Herald as 18-year-old Emmnueo Cibrin of Tampa, stopped near a gas station, O'Neal approached the car and summoned a nearby police officer.

Police did not release an incident report Sunday night. Miami-Dade Corrections officials said they had no record of anyone by Cibrin's name being booked on a criminal charge, and it was unclear if he was ticketed for any moving violations.

The incident happened around 4 a.m., shortly after the Heat got home from a Saturday game in Chicago. O'Neal was helping Crawford, a team security official, unload luggage outside Crawford's home in Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood when the accident occurred.

O'Neal, through the team, said Sunday night that he followed proper police protocol during the chase, including pursuing at a safe distance and speed. He contacted police officers along the way, he said.

O'Neal was sworn in as a reserve officer in 2005. He has long said he intends to pursue a career in law enforcement when he retires from basketball.

**BEB** · 01-29-07, 12:54 AM

Good deal. I wish more people would take an interest while being smart about it. Anyone object to what he did?

**10-42Adam** · 01-29-07, 01:40 AM

Sounds like he went about the right way of doing it. But hell, even if I wasn't into L.E. and somebody crashed into my Escalade you better believe I'm going to chase them and call the police, too!

**TXCOP** · 01-29-07, 07:53 AM

I wonder if he used "proper police protocol" or they swept it under the rug. You know that he was hauling ass and driving like a fool.

**danninator** · 01-29-07, 10:27 AM

I just think a cop(sworn right?) needing a body guard is hilarious.

That and how big is the guy protecting shaq???

**gozling** · 01-29-07, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by TXCOP

I wonder if he used "proper police protocol" or they swept it under the rug. You know that he was hauling ass and driving like a fool.

no... say it aint so... really???? lol

**10-42Adam** · 01-29-07, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by danninator

I just think a cop(sworn right?) needing a body guard is hilarious.

That and how big is the guy protecting shaq???

That is a pretty funny point! However, considering how famous he is, the guy probably gets mobbed with people wanting his autograph everywhere he goes. That would get annoying...