Concerns grows about high-speed pursuits after five chases in seven days

A recent police chase in Wake County resulted in one person dead and another injured, adding to a concerning trend of high-speed pursuits in the area.

It was just one of four chases reported in the past week, and one of 42 police chases since the start of the year.

The Wake County Sheriff's Office, along with the Highway Patrol and Raleigh Police, are responsible for most of the chases, and data suggests civilians are seven times more likely to be injured in these chases.

According to crash data compiled by WRAL Data Trackers, There have been 20 civilian injuries in the more then 40 police chases this year. In that same data, only two law enforcement officers were injured.

Pursuits are becoming an increasingly more dangerous tactic. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pursuit deaths are up 380% in the last 10 years, from five in 2013 to 24 in 2022. So far in 2024, Three people, two of which were drivers in the suspected vehicle, died from their injuries.

Data from the State Highway Patrol shows a 130% increase in pursuits from 2019 to 2022 statewide. Troopers were involved in 454 chases in 2019. In 2022, that number ws 1,053. The State Highway Patrol was averaging nearly three chases a day in 2022, a year when 24 people died as a result of these pursuits.

Data from the Wake County Sheriff's Office shows that deputies there were involved in 74 pursuits in 2023. The number will likely be surpassed in 2024, with the sheriff's office hitting 35 chases as of June 2.

High-speed chases are on the rise, and they are becoming more deadly

"We have a tough job to keep the community safe and we’re committed to it," Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe said. "Anybody we believe is dangerous, we want to stop them before they cause any harm," Rowe said.

Of the 40 chases, one out of every five chases was initiated by the Wake County Sheriff's Office or Raleigh Police Department.

With some of the chases reaching speeds over 100 mph, WRAL News asked Rowe if it is too much. Rowe said these chases are necessary to protect the public, adding the sheriff's office takes a number of factors into account before engaging in a pursuit, including road conditions, weather and what laws the driver is breaking.

"Drivers are trained when they see that situation and they feel it’s putting people in jeopardy to pull off," Rowe said.

A sentiment shared by Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson.

"If you're chasing a violent offender who has caused harm to our community, you need to engage," she said.

WRAL News asked North Carolina Attorney General and Democratic nominee for governor Josh Stein the same question. He said he doesn't believe there is excessive aggression, but emphasized the importance of good judgment in the situation.

"When they’re going after someone they need to make sure they’re minimizing the dangers to public and to the officers," Stein said.

Rowe says the supervisor makes the call about when it becomes a risk to public safety, adding that in the past they’ve called them off but then follow up days later and made an arrest.

Rowe said while the pursuits are sometimes necessary, the sheriff's office is considering utilizing drone technology to identify people speeding in the county to minimize pursuits.

"I want a safe ending, but I want to end this kind of behavior that endangers everybody," he said.