By David Hench
Portland Press Herald
SCARBOROUGH, Maine — Scarborough police are reviewing the chase of a motorcyclist that reached speeds of 100 mph through four communities last week to determine whether it complied with the department’s policy.
The chase, which police say started as a traffic stop for a faulty headlight, led to the arrest in Portland of 26-year-old Derek Caruso, on charges of criminal speeding, eluding police, driving with a suspended license and refusing to submit to arrest.
As officers arrived at Caruso’s house, police said, he shut the door on their arms and feet when they tried to apprehend him. Police finally used a Taser stun gun so they could arrest him. No one was injured in the chase.
The chase will be scrutinized to determine whether the threat Caruso posed to the public was greater than the danger inherent in a high-speed chase.
''I don’t want to jump to any conclusions at this point,’' Police Chief Robert Moulton said. ''We do always take a look at these. If there’s a violation of policy, if we’re wrong, we’ll address that.’'
Police have become much more conservative over the years in deciding when to initiate a pursuit and when to call it off, because high-speed chases can be dangerous.
Scarborough’s policy requires an officer to consider a driver’s offense in deciding whether to give chase. A high-speed chase is allowed if an officer believes that a violent felony has or will be committed, or that there is substantial risk to the public if the violator is not stopped immediately.
Moulton said he is unaware of any suspicions beyond the headlight that might have led officers to pursue Caruso.
Scarborough’s policy also says officers must hand off a chase if it enters another town, and must abandon it if someone is fleeing on a motorcycle or the neighboring town’s officers cannot take over.
A motorcycle is thought to pose less danger than a car to other people on the road, and a chase is thought to be more likely to cause injury to a suspect on a bike.
Last year, Patrick Smith fled from a Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy on his Harley-Davidson at speeds up to 95 mph before crashing in Buxton and dying. Harry Center, an attorney representing Smith’s family in a possible lawsuit against Cumberland County, said that if a rider can be identified, he should be arrested later, rather than being chased.
''It’s not like there’s going to be guns in the trunk or a person tied up,’' Center said. ''The foremost concern is the public, and whether or not the means used justify the end of apprehension.’'
Just before 9 p.m. last Friday, Scarborough Officer Shawn Anastasoff stopped Caruso at Pine Point for a faulty headlight, said Capt. David Grover. Grover said it is not clear what was wrong with the headlight.
Caruso initially stopped, police said, then raced off.
Police chased him to Route 1 and then Payne Road. At the intersection with Gorham Road, an officer in a cruiser who had left from the police station was closer to the motorcycle and took over the chase, Grover said.
Caruso entered Gorham on Brackett Road. An officer from that town took over as the primary pursuer, police said. A police commander from Gorham did not return repeated calls requesting information about that town’s involvement in the chase.
The pursuit led into Westbrook, where police decided against joining the chase, although officers did clear intersections to reduce the chance of an accident, said Chief William Baker.
Eventually, Caruso drove to Portland and his home on Hobart Street, police said.
Portland Lt. Michael Jones requested that the Gorham and Scarborough officers abandon the chase, but it appears Caruso had already pulled up at his house, not far from the Westbrook line.
Gorham Sgt. Dana Thompson used a Taser to stun Caruso, police said, and Scarborough Officer Robert Nguyen arrested him.
Baker said his officers chose not to take over the pursuit in Westbrook because of the risk.
''My view of high-speed chases has evolved over the past 35 years to where I think it is generally unwise to pursue for motor vehicle violations,’' Baker said.
However, police face a dilemma, he said. If motorists believe that all they have to do to escape tickets is drive at reckless speeds, that could cause more danger for the public.
Scarborough’s critique of the chase will examine whether any changes in policy or training are needed.
Copyright 2009 Portland Press Herald