Running from police can only do more harm than good, adding to charges
March 31, 2009
If the police pull you over, don’t run to the hills.
“It only makes the situation worse,” said Lt. Todd Henert of the University Police. “It compounds what has already taken place.”
Unfortunately, one suspect did not get that message. University Police arrested Marshall B. Wilder, 19, of Riverdale, after he allegedly ran away from the UP after he and two other individuals were pulled over Sunday morning.
The incident occurred on Sunday at 3:44 a.m. after the UP stopped a vehicle on Lucinda Avenue near Lincoln Hall for driving with no headlights on.
Upon investigating, the officer smelled cannabis coming from the occupants of the car. According to the blotter, the officer asked the occupants if they had any illegal contraband with them, which they denied.
As the officer searched the car, Wilder took off running. Another officer watched the other two as the officer followed Wilder on foot. Wilder attempted to hide in a dumpster but was found.
“There were tracks in the snow leading up to the dumpster,” Henert said, stating how the officer found Wilder. Henert added that no snow was found on the dumpster’s lid: a sign that it had been
moved recently.
Wilder is charged with possession of cannabis 30 grams and under and resisting a peace officer. The other two occupants in the car were referred to Judicial Affairs.
Henert advised that it is never a good idea to run from the police as additional charges for resisting or fleeing arrests can be leveled against the individual.
“If the officer is injured during the pursuit, they could be culpable for that,” Henert said.