LMPD :: Louisville Metro Police Department
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An Eventful 2008 Holiday Season

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Christmas is the time of joy and giving. It is the time for getting together with friends and families. It is the time for sharing memories and creating new ones. Unfortunately for Law Enforcement it is business as usual and there is always an increase in crime this time of year.

Last week we witnessed Officers on routine patrol spot a suspicious vehicle. After they verified that it was stolen and called for back up the vehicle pulled over. As Officers approached the vehicle on foot it took off. The Officers ran back to their cars and got in and called off on the situation. The Officers found the stolen vehicle 3 blocks up the road. It had crashed into a tree tearing the car in half.

Three of the five occupants lay dead and Officers immediately performed life saving measures on the surviving occupants, the same occupants they would have arrested had the driver not taken off. EMT's and Fire Fighters soon arrived to assist. Police Officers blocked the route and escorted the ambulances carrying the other two youth's to the hospital.

Officers later learned that a one of the occupants later died of his injuries and the one that lived ironically was the driver and probably the person that stole the car in the first place. He has been charged with the stolen car and 4 counts of murder.

Last night Officers in the 6th Division responded to the robbery of Wendy's on Bardstown Road. Officers arrived and obtained a description of the vehicle that the robbers used. The vehicle was stopped within several blocks. The driver surrendered and a passenger fled on foot. As the Officers were in the process of arresting the driver the suspect that had fled on foot backtracked, jumped in and stole a metro police car.

This of course led to a high speed chase that ended with the subject crossing over into Indiana and then driving the Police unit into the river. As the subject waded to shore he was still armed with a pistol. The subject kept on coming even after repeated requests for him to drop the gun. The subject kept approaching the Officers and they were forced to shoot him.

When you go to midnight mass or say your prayers, please remember the Officers dealing with these incidents. Remember all the emergency personnel that will be working round the clock through the holidays, Police, Fire, EMS, Corrections and Metro Safe Employees. They will be away from their families during the holidays making sure yours are safe and happy.

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