Home › News › Boulder & County News
‘We always pursue a fleeing felon’
State Patrol’s pursuit policy differs from local agencies
Photo by Marty Caivano
Emergency personnel look over the scene of five car crash after a chase that reached speeds of up to 90 mph Wednesday evening. According to the State Patrol, Brian Radford caused the crash at the intersection of 95th Street and Niwot Road in Boulder County. One victim, 33-year-old Chalae Cartledge, of Lafayette, is in serious condition after being flown to St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver. Her 9-month-old daughter, Kierra Cartledge, had less serious injuries and was taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette.
STORY TOOLS
More Boulder & County News
- Boulder leaders: Builders need to give back
- Black-tailed prairie dogs may get protection
- Defense: Novak a 'scapegoat' for angry clients
Share and Enjoy [?]
When Brian Radford ran a red light Wednesday and hit a car in an intersection — causing his white pickup to take flight and sheer the top off a Chevy Blazer, injuring the mother and daughter inside — he was being hotly pursued by the law.
Even after the Longmont Police Department and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office both decided it wasn’t worth the chase, the state troopers pressed on.
Radford, a 23-year-old Boulder man, had two outstanding felony warrants for his arrest: absconding from parole and criminal impersonation. And, according to Colorado State Patrol Trooper Gilbert Mares, “We always pursue a fleeing felon.”
After a chase that reached speeds of up to 90 mph, according to the State Patrol, Radford crashed his truck at the intersection of 95th Street and Niwot Road in Boulder County, causing a five-car accident. The driver of the Blazer, 33-year-old Chalae Cartledge, of Lafayette, is in serious condition after being flown to St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver. Her 9-month-old daughter, Kierra Cartledge, had less serious injuries and was taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette.
The Longmont Police Department was the first agency to try to pull Radford over on Wednesday afternoon when officers recognized that he might be a parole violator. But when Radford fled west on Colo. 66, police said, they didn’t pursue him.
“The general rule is if it’s related to a violent crime, if weapons are involved, if it’s a suicidal person or they have a weapon that would endanger others, then we pursue,” said Cmdr. Tim Lewis of the Longmont Police Department. “You know, if somebody robs a bank or shoots at someone, we’re going to pursue.”
But Lewis said a felony warrant isn’t enough to pursue — it depends on what kind of crime the warrant was for — and officers may stop a chase if it becomes too dangerous.
“We had an incident where a guy pointed a handgun at people,” he said. “Our officers found the vehicle, and he fled. But we stopped the pursuit when they got in the highly populated areas.”
In Radford’s case, he has a long history of trouble with the law in Colorado, including arrests on suspicion of kidnapping, criminal mischief, larceny, possession of narcotic equipment, reckless driving causing injury, violation of a restraining order, possession of a weapon and hit and run. He also served time in the Colorado Department of Corrections for vehicle theft, first-degree aggravated vehicle theft and attempting to escape.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office also decided not to pursue Radford, who was fleeing during rush hour Wednesday. Its official policy is similar to Longmont’s.
Sheriff’s deputies can pursue a suspect when they believe he or she has committed — or is about to commit — a felony. But the policy also says that “pursuits in these circumstances are not authorized if the risk to life and property caused by the pursuit outweighs the potential benefit that might result from successful apprehension” or if the officer discovers the suspect has committed only a “low-level” felony.
According to a presentation prepared by Colorado State Trooper Anthony Padilla for the National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities earlier this year, 12 percent of pursuits end in injury or death, and one-third end in a crash. The national yearly average for deaths related to pursuits over the past 20 years is 329.
The presentation also noted that 71 percent of the public and 91 percent of police still view high-speed chases as a necessary crime-fighting tool.
Radford is in the Boulder County Jail facing possible charges of criminal impersonation, vehicular assault, vehicular eluding, reckless driving, three counts of careless driving and driving with a suspended license.
Posted by Osborne1 on August 28, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People will sell their soul for meth.
Posted by woodenfleaeater on August 28, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And their teeth as well!
Posted by jett on August 28, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What business do police have being in a high speed chase for a minor offendor during rush hour?!?!? Meth is a serious crime, but not so serious as to justify putting commuter lives at risk! Sheesh. Common sense when it comes to public safety, please!
Posted by SenorBlanco on August 28, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yes of course...A mother and child injured, but let's focus on the fact it started in Longmont. All bad things that happen can be easily attributed to Longmont
Posted by wgstrand on August 28, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Radford, and Radford alone, is to blame for this tragedy. Period.
Posted by rungreger on August 28, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
very sad ending but police really had no choice in the matter and it's good they got him off the street as it was only a matter of time until someone was killed as a result of his actions. Let's just hope they got him soon enough.
Posted by chairbear on August 28, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
At about 6:15 last night I recieved a phone call from my best friend's husband. This call was to say there's been an accident and it's bad.
This mother just happens to be my best friend. The "toddler" is my 9 month old god-daughter. Words can't really even being to express what I am feeling after spending the evening into the late hours of the night in the ER; trying to offer what little comfort can be offered to someone who has suffered serious bodily injuries and is worried about her child. I can't even being to convey how I felt after finding out what the cause of the accident was. I just kept thinking "you have got to be kidding me. How could this have happened?"
While I don't want to pretend to know more than a law enforcement official (regarding when a high speed pursuit is or is not appropriate), I couldn't help but thinking as I looked at my friend in pain and shock that how could it be worth it? This guy, (if I am reading the information correctly) when straight to jail. Meaning he didn't get hurt, or get hurt badly.
While I am not going to go into detail about the extensiveness of her injuries, suffice it to say there will be MONTHS of recovery ahead. I know that life is not fair, but the unjustice of this situation is baffling......
Posted by cgjj1 on August 28, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Remember when Boulder was such a cool place way back. Then all the cool people moved to Longmont and Ned. And left a bunch of sullied leftists in their wake. They just hate Longmont and spew every chance they get for their own shortcomings. Do us all a favor and go jump off the third...
Posted by crazy4cheese on August 28, 2008 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You always pursue a fleeing felon huh? Well, Gilbert, your decision hurt a woman and her baby. Are you happy now?
Posted by RoundisaShape on August 28, 2008 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Things like this happen in Niwot.
Posted by rocknwsc on August 28, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"always" (or never) implies a complete lack of discretional judgement.
Posted by Romulus on August 28, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh the bleeding hearts on here. What a bunch of whack jobs.
What if this fleeing felon had escaped and later broken into your home and robbed of assaulted you? The you would be mad at the police for not stopping him.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Posted by wgstrand on August 28, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Well, Gilbert, your decision hurt a woman and her baby."
No. Radford created the innocent victims here, not anyone else.
Posted by rasinden57 on August 28, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gabe...So why not raise taxes and hire PhD's to do police work? That would make you happy,no doubt?
Get a grip dude. It is just to much fun to take a stab at the cops. It is a tragedy that these people were injured. It was the rsult of a dumba$$ breaking the law repeatedly. Get his a$$ off the streets.
Posted by edenger on August 28, 2008 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think there was a severe lack of judgement in this situation. The longmont officer realized that this high speed chase at speeds of 90 mph was inappropriate due to the risk it placed civilians in. There are very few outcomes that this chase could have had that wouldn't have resulted in bodily harm. Why did the State officer continue pursuit? because he didn't weigh the risk vs threat this situation created and he in fact was the threat to everyone on the roads
Healing thoughts and prayers to Chalae and Keirra
Posted by ziggle on August 28, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
High speed chases kill and maim far too many innocent victims. The Longmont Police Department and Boulder Sheriff's Department were right to stop the chase, and it is unfortunate that the State Patrol didn't use the same good judgment.
I hope that the Colorado State Patrol officers who were involved in this pursuit spend a good long time thinking about the consequences of their stupidity.
Posted by rungreger on August 28, 2008 at 9:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope this drug guy gets the death penalty.
Posted by JakPott on August 28, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
a 23 year old that has " arrests on suspicion of kidnapping, criminal mischief, larceny, possession of narcotic equipment, reckless driving causing injury, violation of a restraining order, possession of a weapon and hit and run. He also served time in the Colorado Department of Corrections for vehicle theft, first-degree aggravated vehicle theft and attempting to escape"
out on the street driving around and not on some kind of ankle braclet monitoring program or something ??
Heres the deal with parole...go anywhere outside your house and the grocery store and you will be arrested.
As for the high speed chase: dumb. For anything less than a murderer on the loose or terrorist with a bomb, in the age of helicopters, automobile high speed chases that endanger multiple innocent citizens, should be stopped.
Posted by wgstrand on August 28, 2008 at 9:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You folks piling on the LEOs are entirely missing the one and only perpetrator - Radford. The instant he chose to run, he created the accident. At *any* time he could have obeyed the law and stopped the entire chain of events. He chose to break the law, and the mother and her child are the victims of his choices.
Posted by crazy4cheese on August 28, 2008 at 10:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nope. It's the PIG's fault.
Posted by monkeys on August 28, 2008 at 10:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It sounds like this guy could have been detained during one of the many times he was being charged with these other crimes.
Additionally, most criminals live right where the phone book says they live. Law enforcement does not go to someone's house to arrest them because they have a warrant. It would have been a lot safer to do that.
Posted by wgstrand on August 28, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think we all now know enough about "crazy4cheese" with that comment.
Posted by oryoki on August 28, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ziggle ... you can be sure the state patrol officer will think about this incident for the rest of his life. This officer has dedicated his life to public service and protection of all citizens. For you to insinuate anything else is absurd.
Posted by tomray on August 29, 2008 at 2:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Our State Troopers pursued a young man with two outstanding "felony" warrants (i.e. minor) and created a 90 MPH high-risk chase on the public streets of our communities at rush hour - in total disregard for the lives and well-being of our citizens. If this is actually the "policy" of our State, then the public should be enraged.
In light of the recent presentation to the Department of (BLAH BLAH) regarding the statistics of high-speed chases, such a policy is unacceptable, if not criminal. Are chases like this actually "policy", knowing there is a 33% risk of a crash when our Troopers engaged in such chases, and a 12% risk of injury or death?
Who needs a study to figure it out that these speeds in densely populated areas at rush hour are bound to end in disaster?
What right do our State Troopers have to bring such risks to the public in pursuit of a felony warrant? These officers must answer to the communities they serve -- it is their duty to protect us, not risk our lives! That trooper was at a lethal speed and caused a 5-car collision and significant injury to a young woman -- and it was pure luck no one was killed.
If 71% of the public support this policy, they are probably unaware of the risks to themselves and other innocent people in their communities. Who is accountable for this? Identify yourself and explain this policy and whether the Trooper was following it while breaking all the speed limits and other laws of driving on our roads? Explain how much effort had gone into finding this "criminal" (none?) and why he could not have been easily arrested by a little hard work and patience?
Shame on you.
Tomray
Broomfield
Posted by jkw2911 on August 29, 2008 at 6:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyday for too many years I am up and down 95th from Lville to Niwot and back. Over these years I have seen the traffic more than double. I just missed seeing that accident within minutes. In fact, it took me more than 5 minutes to exit (to go into Lmont) the parking lot of Rocky Mountain Christian Church. 5 minutes--that's how much traffic was on 95th @ 5:30 on a Weds night! My point is the State Patrol should know how busy 95th is and that the chase would only end up bad. Not too mention that it was on a corner with a church and a high school just blocks away. Thank you God that this mom and her daughter are alive. Thank God that more people are not in the hospital or worse yet, dead. I pray that this will make the CO State Patrol take a step back and reevaluate their "always pursue" policy. Too the family, we love you and are praying for you!
Posted by runcatalina on August 29, 2008 at 6:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
High speed chases are so unnecessary in most cases. If you really need to get the guy have a helicopter or small plane follow him. He'll eventually run out of gas. And in parts of rural Boulder/Weld County, the roads are long and straight with nowhere to hide. Just set up a roadblock, or tire puncture strips ahead of him/her.
I pray for the injured.
Posted by katiekurt on August 29, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A 90 MPH chase during rush hour... talk about stupid.
Posted by sidd on August 29, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Most places with higher crime rates use helicopters tire spikes and many other proven effective ways to safely end high speed chases.
Every day law enforcement lets convicted violent felons out to roam around society the police and courts create this game over and over they need better ways to deal with it when it turns to a chase. They know ‘parole’ fails more then half the time.
The CSP helped create a very dangerous situation that could of ended much worse.
Posted by lisal on August 29, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good thing his name is Brian Radford and not Brian Robles, or this would have gone in another direction about the rampant illegal immigrants.
Posted by lisal on August 29, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
By the way, chairbear- my heart goes out to you. I hope that your friend and her daughter get well quickly. This is truly a tragedy.
Posted by Dick_Tater on August 29, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is so sad, my heart goes out to the Cartledge family. My you recover quickly. If we don't pursue, everyone will run. We need to severely punish those who run and continue to send a message to any that would consider these actions. While I don't think the death penalty is warranted, we should make it so that you will die in prison if you perpetrate a crime like this.
Posted by FidelC on August 29, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The police could have easily apprehended the felon by the use of radios, rather than the gas pedal. Instead, someone had to try to be a hero, and it cost dearly.
Posted by gmscolorado on August 29, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by Wilson on August 28, 2008 at 3:18 p.m.
"It figures this all started in Longmont"
Yet another of Wilson's idiotic, mis-informed posts. Yesterday Wilson posted (paraphrasing here...) "Figures that Radford is from Longmont" when, in fact, the perpetrator is from ... yes, BOULDER.
A young woman (with an infant in the car) was seriously hurt, and all you seem able to do is post inane crap day after day.
Grow up and get a life!
Posted by crazy4cheese on August 29, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"We always pursue a fleeing felon."
In other words, "We aren't paid to think."
Posted by observer1 on August 29, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"We always pursue a fleeing felon."
Theft of Sound Recordings (copyrighted sounds) is a class 6 felony (CRS 18-4-602). Is that worth severely injuring and nearly killing a family?
What an ignorant statement...
Posted by wgstrand on August 29, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why are so many people covering for Radford?
Posted by wks9326 on August 29, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wgstrand:
Radford started the car chase but the CSP are professionals and should know when to deescalate the situation for the safety of others. The decision of what behavior is appropriate should not be left in the hands of a desperate criminal.
Posted by rasinden57 on August 29, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by wgstrand on August 29, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why are so many people covering for Radford?
Answer: This is self evident. The morons covering for the dumbell are similar, and would be happy to have a lot of loose nuts running around with warrants and parole violations. They see nothing wrong with the dumbell, and blame it all on the cops. Ignoring them is the best policy.
Posted by wgstrand on August 29, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Radford escalated the situation by running. The blame for the entire tragedy lies with him and him alone.
Posted by edenger on August 29, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with FidelC... radios and helicopters are faster than any car. An APB and dilligent follow up would have brought this felon into custody.
Posted by belle76 on August 29, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is not the Police's fault! Who says that just because the cops backed off that Radford would have slowed down. He's obviously not one for obeying the law. He could have caused any number of issues on his own. The police were trying to stop him from doing something again. If Radford had not ran then there wouldnt have been a problem. He is the cause of all this.
I am sick to my stomach about this accident, as i have a 11 month old daughter. The hardest part would not being able to be with my daughter, not being able to take care of her the way i would like to. I hope the mother has as quick of a recover as possible
Posted by rasinden57 on August 29, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Your dumba$$ assertions get dumber by the post. Keep going. This is so much fun. You drop out of kindy garden?
Posted by markf on August 29, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This started in Longmont but Boulder will set him free by serving a few hours of community service.
(Requires free registration.)
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
Camera staff does not actively monitor comments. If you believe a comment breaks the user agreement, please flag the comment and someone will take a look at it.