A University of Arizona Police Department officer traveling northbound on Park Avenue noticed a Chevy sedan being pursued by a silver Saab at approximately 1:15 a.m. on July 7. Both vehicles proceeded south on Park and turned west on Second Street at high speeds.
As the officer followed, both vehicles failed to stop at stop signs located at two intersections on Park. The officer continued to pursue, believing the Saab was actively pursuing the Chevy and that the driver of the Chevy was aware of the pursuit and was attempting to evade.
The officer eventually caught up to the Saab as the driver came to an abrupt stop in front of Wildcat Laundry. The officer initiated a traffic stop. While the officer contacted dispatch, the driver of the Saab exited the vehicle.
The officer told the driver to get back inside the Saab. The driver refused. The officer then unholstered his weapon and approached as the driver raised his hands. The officer asked the driver if he had any weapons on him, to which he responded no.
The officer then asked the driver for his license and why he had exited his vehicle. The Saab driver responded that he was trying to show the officer that he was cooperative.
The Chevy that the Saab was pursuing then suddenly stopped behind the officer. The driver of the Chevy started shouting at the officer that the driver of the Saab was chasing her.
Another officer soon arrived on scene to interview the driver of the Chevy. The driver said that she wanted the Saab driver to know he couldn’t drive like that in the future and wanted him to learn from the incident.
When the original officer continued questioning the driver of the Saab, the driver said that he had been exiting Jack in the Box’s parking lot as the Chevy was entering it. The Chevy had almost struck his vehicle and he chased her down as a result.
The officer asked the driver of the Saab if he had engaged in road rage and if he had a short temper. The driver responded yes to both questions. The Saab driver’s license was found to be suspended.
The Saab Driver was arrested on one count of reckless driving and one count of driving with a suspended license. The Saab was sent to the impound for a mandatory 30-day period.
Follow Jon Rice on Twitter
