Once again let's blame the police!

**Beans** · 05-28-07, 06:10 PM

As sad as the outcome on this one is, no one told the idiot to run.

Crash Kills Driver, 2 Boys During Police Chase
KNOB NOSTER, Mo. (AP) -- The driver of a stolen pickup truck attempted to flee police and crashed into a tree along a highway, killing himself and his two young passengers, authorities said Monday.

A police officer had stopped Walter R. Rivers, 31, of Warrensburg, for speeding at 4:55 a.m. Sunday on Missouri 23. The truck had been reported stolen May 11 in Warrensburg.

As the officer approached, the truck's backup lights came on, said Lt. Jane Logan, a Knob Noster police spokeswoman. The officer then stepped onto the highway because he was worried the driver was going to pin him against his patrol car, she said.

The driver then fled, and the officer pursued as the truck reached speeds of 80 to 100 mph, Logan said. The chase lasted less than two minutes before the driver lost control as he crested a hill outside the city limits of Knob Noster, she said. The truck overturned on its side and skidded into a tree that is part of a fence line, crushing the cab, Logan said.

Rivers, his roommate's son, Stephen K. Hayes, 13, and his friend, Christian Lackey, 12, both of Warrensburg, were all pronounced dead at the scene.

Police were investigating the possibility that the boys had been used to help vehicle thefts and to steal items from vehicles, Logan said. No stolen property was found on either of the boys, she said.

She didn't know why the boys were driving around with Rivers at that hour.

Lackey's aunt, Caroyln Johnson, also wondered why the boys were riding around with Rivers so early in the morning, but she also questioned how police handled the matter.
"That mother put that man with those two little boys in a stolen truck. Police chased him. Why didn't the police back off?" Johnson asked.

Logan said while the department was saddened by the outcome, the officer involved in the chase followed proper procedures.

"He did exactly what I would have done," she said. "There was no fault to be found with the officer's choices."

Logan said Rivers' criminal background included a couple charges for auto theft and stealing. He was found with more than 10 stolen credit cards in his pocket, belonging to at least four people, she said.

One of the cards was taken from a truck that was stolen May 23 from a Knob Noster apartment complex where seven other vehicles were broken into, she said. The truck was recovered two days later in Concordia.

The stolen credit card was used a week ago at a Wal-Mart store to purchase a gaming station and video games, Logan said. Police obtained store video camera footage and confirmed the person in the video is Rivers, she said.

The other credit cards were stolen from vehicles in Warrensburg, she said.

**Big Al** · 05-28-07, 06:59 PM

I am sure that an attorney will convince them to file a lawsuit, as it has been done over and over again.

The guy driving the pickup made a choice and he lost.

IMO, good job by the police.

**chris2001** · 05-28-07, 07:32 PM

Sounds like the officers was put into a situation where his life was being put on the line. As in the driver of that vehicle decided to back up towards the officer and the his cruiser. By doing this the driver put everyones lives on the line and in doing so made his own bed, and will now have to be in his bed.

**jmur5074** · 05-28-07, 10:42 PM

Not to change the topic....but...

KNOB NOSTER!???!!

You're kidding right?

**Big Al** · 05-28-07, 10:58 PM

Knob Knoster if for real,,, hey, it is in Missouri, which borders Arkansas.

Need I say more?? Oh,, and Beans is in Missouri but not close to Knob Monster

**kay88** · 05-29-07, 12:31 AM

Why question the officer's reaction? It's crazy how people can turn a bad situation around to blame police. Rather sad actually.

**cwtlady** · 05-29-07, 07:25 AM

It's a sad outcome but the Aunt should be scratching her head and wondering why people would want to steal in the first place rather than questioning the actions of the police. If they would have been decent people and worked for a living rather than stealing, they all would be alive today. Sad situation.

**BEB** · 05-29-07, 07:38 AM

cwtlady - I like how you think. The aunt has plenty of things to question. That the aunt wondered out loud about the cops, among others factors, to a reporter within a day of her nephew getting crushed to death isn't anti LE.

It's a family tragedy. No point making that more than it is.

**conalabu** · 05-29-07, 07:42 AM

I cannot believe how hotly debated the whole chase thing is of late. Unreal to me how this can be so contested.

**Beans** · 05-29-07, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

Not to change the topic....but...

KNOB NOSTER!???!!

You're kidding right?

Yes, it is a real town by the Arkansas border. I am no where near that. I live in the suburbs of St. Louis.

**Morning Coffee** · 05-29-07, 09:32 AM

In Spring Hill Tn , a kid in middle of night was fleeing police , he killed two of his friends and of course the police were blamed by the families and the investigation cleared the officers , the kid thankfully was tried as an adult , but got 9 years probation no jail time .

Personally , i hope he gets revoked soon .

This happens everywhere , civillians scream if you dont do a job their way and they scream if you do ... cant win ...

**BigDawg** · 05-29-07, 10:04 AM

Bad choice on the guys part to run, and on the kids parents to allow them to be there at that hour.

I wonder how the recent Supreme Court ruling will impact this? Such as, because of the recent ruling they may not have a legg to stand on for any law suits. Don't forget the courts threw the whole blame squarely on the driver, not the police.