Officer Didn't Use Lights Or Sirens; Driving 94 mph Before Crash
Omaha, NE- Omaha police have released new information about a terrible car crash that left an Omaha cop badly hurt.
Police say the officer, Christopher Melton, was speeding, without activating his lights or sirens, when he smashed into a teenager driver.
According to the city prosecutor, Marty Conboy, Melton will not face any criminal charges
Melton was responding to a call about a suicidal person at 11:20 the night of November 4th. He was northbound on 60th St. when 16 year-old Stephen Franco turned left onto Grover St. into the path of the speeding officer.
"While there was a collision, there isn't evidence that either was breaking a traffic law to the extent that we could win prosecution," says Conboy.
Even though an investigation now shows Melton had been driving up to 94 miles an hour, without his lights or sirens, Conboy says neither Melton nor Franco will face criminal charges.
But did Melton violate police policy by going that fast without police lights?
"Right now it's in the hands of the safety review committee, so it's up to them to determine that," says Lt. Darci Tierney, the public information officer for the department.
Police policy says cops must use lights and siren when expediting to a call, unless they think it would alert a criminal at the scene, but Melton was going to a suicide call.
"Officers do have discretion as to using their lights and siren," says Tierney.
Franco wasn't hurt in the crash, but Melton had to be pulled from the wreckage. He's back at work now, assigned to light duty, while the safety committee continues its internal investigation.
"It's a personnel issue and we aren't allowed to discuss it per our union contract," says Tierney.
Tierney says the results of the internal investigation won't be made public.

.jpg )






This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.