LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A man shot and killed himself after leading police on a nearly two-hour long, high-speed chase Sunday morning.
Dwight Mitchell, a spokesman for Louisville Metro Police, said officers attempted a traffic stop on a "known individual that had outstanding warrants" in the area of Dixie Highway and Ralph Avenue around 9:30 a.m.
"We have investigators on the scene now that are trying to determine the cause-- I don't know why the stop was initiated, so we are still working all the angles now," assistant LMPD Chief Corey Robinson told WDRB News Sunday morning.
It started in Oldham County and ended in west Louisville
"I'm going around him, double yellow, going about 70 (mph) west on Crums Lane," an officer said on his radio. "He is doing 100mph north on Cane Run... coming up on the Watterson."
Police said the man fled and LMPD's Air Unit was able to locate the car.
He went on to lead police on a pursuit that went across town and into Oldham County.
"Getting out, driver is white hoodie, torn up blue jeans, blue shoes, has something heavy in his right hand, getting into a Black Challenger in the drive way," the same officer said on his radio. "We have a family member here that has someone facetiming him to see if we can get him to stop."
A @WDRBNews viewer sent me this dash cam footage of the chase. You can see at least 8 LMPD cars follow behind him ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/plxPfz8FIW
— Molly Jett (@MolJett) November 17, 2024
The LMPD officer goes on to say they are traveling on 71-North about a half a mile away from the Crestwood exit.
"Ma'am just for-- we no longer have phone contact with him. But they are still trying to call him back though."
The pursuit returned to Louisville, and he eventually crashed into a parked car at 39th and Broadway but continued. The man then returned to the same area and shot and killed himself.
Police said there was another crash during the pursuit involving an LMPD officer at 22nd and Broadway. Two people in the other car were taken to UofL Hospital with non-life threatening injuries and the officer wasn't injured.
LMPD's Public Integrity Unit is investigating.
LMPD's chase policy says officers must believe the suspect has committed or is wanted on a warrant for committing a violent felony.
That policy was changed in 2022 by then chief Ericka Shields only allowing officers to chase a vehicle if they believe the person is violent.
The goal was to keep the general public safer.
At one point on Sunday, the officer radios to dispatch that the driver was wanted for reckless driving, something that's not listed in the policy as a violent offense.
LMPD told us there were multiple warrants for his arrest. It's unclear what else he was wanted for.
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