A civil lawsuit filed by the family of Carlos Hernandez challenges police pursuit decisions following a 2021 crash in Pasco County that left him severely injured. According to body camera footage and incident reports, deputies attempted to stop Samatha Harvey after she fled with a stolen vehicle, eventually deploying spike strips near where Hernandez was working on landscaping. The driver swerved to avoid the spikes, striking Hernandez and throwing him from his lawnmower into the woods. While the sheriff’s office states Harvey is solely responsible for the injuries and is serving prison time, the family argues that continued pursuit despite available aerial tracking contributed to the accident. National data indicates police pursuits have increased in frequency and severity over recent years, with many incidents stemming from minor offenses rather than serious crimes. Former Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan notes that longer pursuits increase public safety risks, though he acknowledges legitimate reasons for pursuing suspects who may commit further crimes.
Key Points:
- Carlos Hernandez was injured in a 2021 Pasco County crash when Samatha Harvey swerved to avoid police spike strips while fleeing with a stolen vehicle.
- Body camera footage shows deputies discussing risks of using patrol cars to stop the vehicle, with one deputy stating they would not damage their cars for a property crime.
- The Hernandez family is suing Sheriff Chris Nocco and others in civil court, arguing that pursuit decisions contributed to the injuries despite available GPS tracking and helicopter surveillance.
- A 2023 Department of Justice report found most police pursuits begin over traffic violations rather than serious crimes, with 21% of seriously injured people not involved in the pursuit.
