New police body camera video and dashcam video have been released of a semi-truck driver who police say led them on a chase through two communities on Feb. 28.
AKRON , Ohio - New police body camera video and dashcam video have been released of a semi-truck driver who police say led them on a chase through two communities on February 28th. The police pursuit ended when two Akron Police officers and a Summit County Deputy opened fire, shooting and injuring semi-driver 34-year-old Jeffrey Latson , Jr.
from Memphis, Tennessee. On Saturday, Latson’s family, including his father, mother, and sister, drove to Akron for a courtesy viewing of the shooting video and to ask questions of police before the body camera and dash camera videos from the Summit County Sheriff and Akron Police were released to news outlets.In the video, you see local officers discover the semi parked in a lot, with its trailer now attached. In previous dash-cam footage from Springfield Township Police, the semi-driver was only driving a cab, not a trailer. The semi driver drives off with deputies and Akron Police in pursuit. At one point, officers radioed to dispatch that their speed during the pursuit was 45 miles per hour. As the chase led officers to East Market Street and Innovation Way, police say Latson backed into one Akron cruiser allegedly in his effort to get away, then hit another cop car as he pulled forward. Springfield Township Police tell 19 News this all started with a domestic argument between the suspect and his ex-girlfriend inside the IHOP. Customers at the restaurant called 911 when they allegedly saw an argument escalating and heard Latson make a threat against one of the employees. When Springfield Township Police first confronted Latson, who was only driving the cab of his truck near the IHOP and Walmart, officers were involved in a struggle as they attempted to get the suspect to step out of the vehicle. Latson then allegedly accelerated, according to police, and an officer who was hanging onto the truck was thrown off as the suspect accelerated. In the process, the Springfield officer broke his leg. A sheriff’s cruiser was also hit by the truck during the encounter. Previous 19 News coverage: VIDEO: Springfield Township officer clings to semi door to stop escaping suspect; charges filed After fleeing the Walmart parking lot at a high rate of speed, according to police, Latson drove southbound on South Arlington Road into oncoming traffic and entered I-77 North.The family of the semi-driver tells 19 News that they’re upset because Akron Police initially said Latson, Jr. was, quote, “shot at least once with non-life-threatening injuries.” But his father, Jeffrey Latson, Sr., says doctors at Summa Health told him that his son was shot four times and his condition was far worse than initially stated. “He’s fighting for his life,” Latson Sr. said. “He was shot in the head and three more times in his body. He tried to shake his head a little bit to let us know that he knew we were here.” Four family members tell me they were only permitted to see Latson, Jr. in the hospital for 20 minutes. Akron Police say normally, when a suspect is hospitalized and in custody, there is no visitation allowed.But what troubles the suspect’s loved ones most is that they feel excessive force was not necessary. “Sometimes people make mistakes, and the video that I saw, they had plenty of chances to subdue the truck without shooting my son. I was told they were shooting to kill and he killed no one,” Latson, Sr. told 19 News. The suspect’s sister, Ashley Latson-Britton, said, “I feel like everything that was done, everything that happened was too excessive. When it first started out in Springfield Township, the officer was getting on top of that semi, trying to force somebody out, which is insane. He became afraid for his life when police there said they were going to shoot him.” Springfield Township Police say they asked Latson to turn off the truck and step out of the cab, but he allegedly refused. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to the scene and will conduct the investigation. Then the case will be submitted to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for review before being submitted to the Summit County Grand Jury. The Akron Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards and Accountability is tasked with conducting a separate internal investigation. The Summit County Sheriff’s Office will conduct its own separate internal investigation. Cleveland woman arrested for murder as investigation into deaths of 2 girls found in suitcases continuesNortheast Ohio police warn residents to be aware of ‘check washing’Cleveland Police need help finding missing 73-year-old man
Semi Truck Semi Truck Shooting Chase Purssuit Ihop Akron Akron Police Police Springfield Springfield Police Springfield Township Township Market Street Jeffrey Latson Felonious Assault Willful Fleeing Obstruction Of Official Business Business Officer Injuries Concussions Walmart Summa Health
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