SYRACUSE, NY – A fatal crash in Syracuse from earlier in February which stemmed from a high-speed pursuit has drawn attention to juxtaposed pursuit policies between the local police department and the sheriff's office, as deputies opted to pursue the now-deceased driver while policy forbade police from engaging.
Minutes before 2:30 a.m. on February 3rd, Syracuse Police officers reportedly spotted a minivan that was reported stolen, attempting a traffic stop in the area of Grand Avenue and Cadwell Street. The driver, later identified as 31-year-old Taijon Williams, fled the traffic stop, but the Syracuse officers reportedly did not initiate a pursuit due to standing policy regarding pursuits of stolen vehicles.
However, minutes after dispatchers notified the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office about the stolen minivan which had fled the traffic stop, deputies spotted the suspect vehicle driving down Avery Avenue near West Genesee Street, initiating a pursuit where deputies were reportedly unable to catch up to the fleeing vehicle.
Authorities say the driver of the stolen vehicle turned onto Erie Boulevard West, which is apparently a winding road which is also at a slant, before crashing into a telephone pole. A 22-year-old female passenger was ejected from the vehicle as a result of the crash but miraculously survived. Williams, however, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Speaking on the incident, Sheriff Toby Shelley revealed Williams harbored an extensive criminal history while harboring active warrants which he believes motivated the deceased suspect to flee from officers and deputies, saying, “It’s just speculation on my part, but he has those warrants, and he didn’t want the police to get him and arrest him on those warrants, and he’s in a stolen car.”
The latest fatal crash out of the county has resurfaced the unfortunate outcomes stemming from differing pursuit policies between the sheriff’s office and Syracuse Police, which said police department updated their pursuit policy in August of 2024 to prohibit pursuing stolen vehicles if there isn’t another accompanying violent felony connected to the suspect. Three months after Syracuse Police updated their stolen vehicle pursuit policy in 2024, a similar scenario to the one from earlier in February occurred where local police declined to pursue a stolen vehicle later pursued by Onondaga County deputies, leading to a serious crash.
Minutes before 2:30 a.m. on February 3rd, Syracuse Police officers reportedly spotted a minivan that was reported stolen, attempting a traffic stop in the area of Grand Avenue and Cadwell Street. The driver, later identified as 31-year-old Taijon Williams, fled the traffic stop, but the Syracuse officers reportedly did not initiate a pursuit due to standing policy regarding pursuits of stolen vehicles.
However, minutes after dispatchers notified the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office about the stolen minivan which had fled the traffic stop, deputies spotted the suspect vehicle driving down Avery Avenue near West Genesee Street, initiating a pursuit where deputies were reportedly unable to catch up to the fleeing vehicle.
Authorities say the driver of the stolen vehicle turned onto Erie Boulevard West, which is apparently a winding road which is also at a slant, before crashing into a telephone pole. A 22-year-old female passenger was ejected from the vehicle as a result of the crash but miraculously survived. Williams, however, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Speaking on the incident, Sheriff Toby Shelley revealed Williams harbored an extensive criminal history while harboring active warrants which he believes motivated the deceased suspect to flee from officers and deputies, saying, “It’s just speculation on my part, but he has those warrants, and he didn’t want the police to get him and arrest him on those warrants, and he’s in a stolen car.”
The latest fatal crash out of the county has resurfaced the unfortunate outcomes stemming from differing pursuit policies between the sheriff’s office and Syracuse Police, which said police department updated their pursuit policy in August of 2024 to prohibit pursuing stolen vehicles if there isn’t another accompanying violent felony connected to the suspect. Three months after Syracuse Police updated their stolen vehicle pursuit policy in 2024, a similar scenario to the one from earlier in February occurred where local police declined to pursue a stolen vehicle later pursued by Onondaga County deputies, leading to a serious crash.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments