Two Dallas police officers face possible termination after failing to stop and render aid to a driver who crashed his car following a brief pursuit by the officers.
On May 13, around 2:20 a.m., Senior Cpl. Leonard Anderson and police Officer Trainee Darrien Robertson encountered a red car at a gas station in South Dallas.
The driver of the red car drove onto the street without headlights on, so the officers activated their emergency lights, and a high-speed chase ensued.
The pursuit lasted roughly 30 seconds before the driver accelerated significantly ahead of the two officers. The officers turned off their lights and ended their pursuit, but just as they did, the red car jumped a curb and crashed off the side of the road at a high rate of speed.
Dashcam footage in Anderson and Robertson’s vehicle captured the two officers driving by the wreckage, with Anderson quipping, “That’s his fault.”
The officers did not stop, continuing on their way without checking on the driver.
“I’m embarrassed for the men and women of this department,” said Police Chief Eddie Garcia, commenting on the incident in an interview with WFAA. “This is not what we stand for.”
Good Samaritans, some of whom witnessed Anderson and Robertson’s police cruiser casually leave the scene, pulled the driver out of the car and carried him away as flames began to consume the vehicle.
The two officers later returned to the scene after hearing that the car was on fire on their radio.
Upon their arrival, captured on body cam, paramedics can be seen tending to the bloodied man on the sidewalk as other police officers face off against angry onlookers who had seen Anderson and Robertson drive off.
In a prepared statement, Garcia said, “If there are members of our community who are outraged by this, rest assured, I am outraged as well. The civilians did what our officers should have done, called for assistance and helped the injured individual.”
Police Chief Garcia placed Anderson and Robertson on administrative leave. He told WFAA that the two officers might face termination after an investigation, but they will not face criminal charges. Â
