SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio police officer is in a hospital after a crash related to a deputy chase Thursday night.
- Both crashes happened near I-35 at Eisenhower
- Officer is recovering
- Chief McManus spoke to Sheriff Salazar about county’s chase policy
Bexar County Sheriff’s deputies were chasing a driver who took off during a traffic stop. The driver led deputies southbound through the northbound lanes of Interstate 35. The driver crashed into another vehicle head-on near I-35 at Eisenhower.
The two people who were in the car that was hit were taken to a hospital.
SAPD was called to help manage the crash scene. Another car hit an SAPD officer who was setting up flares at the scene. He suffered potentially career-ending injuries.
“I will tell you from visiting him from last night, his leg is not in good shape obviously,” said SAPD Chief William McManus during a press conference on Friday. “Hopefully, pending his other surgeries, he’ll pull out of this ok and be able to continue his career with SAPD.”
Chief McManus said SAPD’s chase policy prohibits pursuits for traffic violations, non-violent felonies, and misdemeanors unless there is a gun involved. He said Bexar County’s chase policy is not that restrictive.
“Pursing people for offenses which do not rise to the need versus the risk to apprehend that person, that just doesn’t work for me,” Chief McManus said.
Chief McManus said he has spoken to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar about the county’s chase policy. McManus said he hopes the county will make some necessary changes to its chase policy after further discussions.
Police say after the suspect’s car crashed, the person still managed to run away. Deputies chased the suspect down and took them into custody.