Man whose car was hit in police chase sues Tampa

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 23, 2001

TAMPA -- A man whose car was struck by a stolen vehicle being pursued by police is suing the city, saying the chase should have been called off to protect other motorists.

On June 30, 2000, Reginal A. Mulkey was driving on Hillsborough Avenue when he was struck by a stolen truck driven by Carl Dean Bellew.

Tampa police were chasing Bellew at the time of the crash; officers had a report that Bellew had been trying to sell guns at a nearby mobile home park.

According to the lawsuit filed Friday in Hillsborough Circuit Court, Mulkey sustained severe injuries that hampered his ability to work.

Mulkey's lawyer, Robert Scanlan, wrote in the lawsuit that Cpl. Richard Howell failed to protect innocent motorists during the chase. The suit also says Howell should have stopped the chase.

"(Howell) continued the chase in such a manner that permitted dangerous conditions to exist," Scanlan wrote. "The pursuit of Carl Bellew created a foreseeable zone of risk."

City officials investigated the incident and, according to court documents, said that the city was not liable for Mulkey's injuries.

The department has a controversial chase policy, which allows officers to chase suspects for nonviolent property crimes, including burglary and auto theft.

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