DAVIDSON COUNTY CHASE NEARLY CAUSES A DEATH

The high-speed pursuit rules used by the Davidson County Sheriff's Office
are very wrong and dangerous! Davidson County Capt. Jody Shoaf said, "When
drug dealers try to get away, Sheriff Hege will chase them!"

I was almost killed on Aug. 9 due to this policy. I encountered the Toyota
Tercel and the black Crown Victoria on Unity Street near the old Hardware
Barn. They were passing a tractor-trailer truck at very high speeds (60-80
mph)! I had to swerve into the right ditch to avoid a head-on collision. I
am very lucky the road at this point was wide enough to allow this.

Hege and his band of jack-booted cowboys should be made to answer some
questions: 1) Why didn't the deputy end the pursuit early, either by
overtaking and turning around the Toyota or by backing off? 2) Why wasn't
the radio used to call for assistance, possibly blocking the roads up
ahead? The chase went on for miles!

How long are the taxpaying citizens going to allow this blatant abuse of
power to continue? This time, no one was killed.

ARTHUR GILBERT

Trinity