Early Saturday SPD I-20 car chase ends tragically
By: Nancy Cook
Updated: August 20, 2012
A local man is dead and a police officer injured following an early Saturday morning traffic stop and brief pursuit on Interstate 20.
The deceased man, Deeric Bailey, 22, of Shreveport, led police on a car chase that ended with SPD Officer Hai Phan firing multiple shots at Bailey whose vehicle eventually came to a final stop alongside the top of an embankment beyond the shoulder of the interstate.
Bailey was transported to LSU Medical Center, where he later was pronounced dead.
It began just
before 4 a.m. on August 18, 2012, when SPD officer Jennifer Monereau attempted
to stop a vehicle near the intersection of Cotton and Common Streets in
downtown Shreveport after observing the driver commit a traffic violation. The
driver of the vehicle, identified as Bailey, refused to stop his vehicle and
fled the scene in an apparent attempt to elude authorities.
During a brief pursuit,
Bailey, driving a tan 2000 Lincoln Town Car, continued to flee from officers at
a high rate of speed, eventually traveling westbound onto Interstate 20.
During his attempts to evade capture, Bailey struck the vehicle of another motorist and then continued driving westbound on I-20, just west of the Linwood Avenue exit ramp. There, he lost control of the vehicle striking a concrete barrier alongside the interstate.
When that happened, the two passengers in Bailey's car bolted, and officer approached Bailey's vehicle; however, Bailey refused to comply with their commands.
In his attempt to flee again, Bailey almost ran over one of the passengers who had jumped out of the vehicle when it struck the barrier.
Monereau was
treated at the hospital for minor injuries.
SPD Chief of Police Willie
Shaw placed both of the officers involved on paid administrative leave in
accordance with departmental policy.
Shaw, who was on the scene, commented on the incident, saying, "This is an unfortunate situation for all involved and our prayers are with the officers and the family of the deceased."
Investigators are continuing their investigation at this time.
