Post by Critique on Feb 2, 2007 3:19:35 GMT -5
Feb 1, 2007
A mother lost her only child when he was thrown from a car after a high-speed chase and then run over by police.
NewsChannel 5 obtained a copy of the police car video at the center of a multi-million dollar lawsuit.
Last January, Paxton Farris, 17, and three friends were cruising in a pick-up truck and stopped at a garage. A suspicious neighbor called 911. When police arrived, Scott Gooden who was driving the truck took off.
He led Spring Hill Police on a chase that ended with the death of Farris and Chelsea Chappell, 14. Farris was thrown from the truck, and his body was run over by police. His family filed a $2 million civil lawsuit against Gooden and the Spring Hill Police.
"[There are] unanswered questions concerning this incident -- what caused it to happen, who caused it to happen, and who may ultimately may be responsible for the death of those two children," Dan Warlick, the Farris family attorney, said.
Gooden was charged with vehicular homicide.
A grand jury found the police did nothing wrong, but Warlick said the police video tells the story behind the lawsuit.
"I'm seeking justice for my clients," he said.
The video shows the following scene: With police in hot pursuit, the pick-up crashed off the road. Seconds later, as police rush to the scene, another squad car sped into the picture. The truck rolled and threw three teens before it stopped on the shoulder. Kelsey Newell landed several yards off the road. Chelsea Chappell was thrown 30 feet along the shoulder. Paxton Farris was thrown about 20 feet into a culvert. Moments later, a second patrol car swerved around the first into the culvert and ran directly over Farris.
"There's no question that the police car ran over him," he said.
In the video, an officer shined a flashlight on Farris and threw his arms in the air as another squad car sped through the scene and over Farris.
Investigators said Farris was likely already dead.
"I'm saying it's probable that he was alive. I have discussed this with people who are experts who will testify that he was alive at the time the police car hit him," Warlick said.
The lawsuit calls the police reckless and negligent. Warlick said the kids committed no serious crime -- no burglary or shooting. They were just scared kids afraid to stop after curfew.
Friday night, NewsChannel 5 will have an interview with Paxton Farris' mother about her search for answers.
www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6027304
A mother lost her only child when he was thrown from a car after a high-speed chase and then run over by police.
NewsChannel 5 obtained a copy of the police car video at the center of a multi-million dollar lawsuit.
Last January, Paxton Farris, 17, and three friends were cruising in a pick-up truck and stopped at a garage. A suspicious neighbor called 911. When police arrived, Scott Gooden who was driving the truck took off.
He led Spring Hill Police on a chase that ended with the death of Farris and Chelsea Chappell, 14. Farris was thrown from the truck, and his body was run over by police. His family filed a $2 million civil lawsuit against Gooden and the Spring Hill Police.
"[There are] unanswered questions concerning this incident -- what caused it to happen, who caused it to happen, and who may ultimately may be responsible for the death of those two children," Dan Warlick, the Farris family attorney, said.
Gooden was charged with vehicular homicide.
A grand jury found the police did nothing wrong, but Warlick said the police video tells the story behind the lawsuit.
"I'm seeking justice for my clients," he said.
The video shows the following scene: With police in hot pursuit, the pick-up crashed off the road. Seconds later, as police rush to the scene, another squad car sped into the picture. The truck rolled and threw three teens before it stopped on the shoulder. Kelsey Newell landed several yards off the road. Chelsea Chappell was thrown 30 feet along the shoulder. Paxton Farris was thrown about 20 feet into a culvert. Moments later, a second patrol car swerved around the first into the culvert and ran directly over Farris.
"There's no question that the police car ran over him," he said.
In the video, an officer shined a flashlight on Farris and threw his arms in the air as another squad car sped through the scene and over Farris.
Investigators said Farris was likely already dead.
"I'm saying it's probable that he was alive. I have discussed this with people who are experts who will testify that he was alive at the time the police car hit him," Warlick said.
The lawsuit calls the police reckless and negligent. Warlick said the kids committed no serious crime -- no burglary or shooting. They were just scared kids afraid to stop after curfew.
Friday night, NewsChannel 5 will have an interview with Paxton Farris' mother about her search for answers.
www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6027304