THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 28, 1995 TAG: 9501280243
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
While a prowler ransacked her home Friday, a frightened 16-year-old girl hid from him and called police. As a result, a suspect was captured a short time later, but not before he wrecked three cars during a chase.
It was the second time in less than a week that a police pursuit in Hampton Roads ended with a wreck. But unlike last weekend's chase, which ended when two innocent people were killed, no one was seriously hurt this time. And police said officers acted properly in pressing their pursuit.
``This was a felon, not just anyone running from the police,'' said Tony Torres, a police spokesman. ``The guy was was burglarizing a house with a young 16-year-old girl inside scared to death. I don't think we can allow people like that to escape police.''
Devino Harding, 35, of the 200 block of Avondale Road was jailed Friday night on charges of burglary, reckless driving and eluding police.
Torres said the incident began about noon when the girl called 911 to report that someone had broken into her home in the 400 block of Head River Road. She said she was alone.
Police dispatchers immediately sent a police car to her home and two others were sent to provide backup. The dispatchers kept the girl on the line.
Although the burglar had not seen her, she was watching him, Torres said. ``She gave us details of the suspect's movements in the home . . . and a detailed physical description.''
After taking several items, the man fled. Again, the girl was able to help police, describing for them the black Chevrolet Camaro he got into.
Moments after the burglar drove off, the first police car arrived at the girl's home. But the two other police units were still approaching on Centerville Turnpike when they spotted the car and the suspect the girl had described.
The car didn't stop when police signaled with their blue lights, and the chase was on. It lasted only a few minutes, however.
At the intersection of Mt. Pleasant Road and Centerville, the Camaro struck two vehicles, a Toyota pickup and a Mitsubishi Galant. Both were totaled, and the driver of the Galant suffered minor injuries.
The Camaro continued north on Centerville for a short distance before striking another car, an Oldsmobile.
The Camaro stopped there, and Harding was arrested. Police said they recovered items in the car that had been stolen from the girl's home.
``The police officers followed our policy,'' Torres said. ``The officers used proper discretion in initiating the pursuit. They considered the severity of the crime and also considered the risks to the public.''
A week ago tonight, a Richmond lawyer and a Virginia Beach woman were killed when the car they were in was rammed broadside by a van that police had been pursuing from Virginia Beach. Authorities with all the agencies involved in that chase have said their officers, too, followed proper procedures governing chases.
KEYWORDS: POLICE CHASE ACCIDENT INJURIES ARREST BURGLARY
RECKLESS DRIVING ELUDING POLICE by CNB