A 21-year-old New Haven, Connecticut man, who last summer led Hamden police on a high-speed chase in his all-terrain vehicle before crashing into a utility pole, now wants the town to pay his medical bills.
Britt Martin claims that five officers were responsible for his injuries because they violated a Police Department policy to discontinue high-speed pursuits when the risk exceeds the need for immediate apprehension.
Martin's lawsuit states that continuing the police pursuit was "reckless, unnecessary, and unwarranted." Hey, how about your reckless, unnecessary and unwarranted driving style, Britt baby?
Making sure he had all his lawsuit bases covered, the Police Chief is also named in the complaint for failing to order the termination of the police chase.
Martin reportedly fractured his right leg, right foot, left arm, and left elbow, and received numerous other cuts and bruises in the accident. He demands compensation for an unspecified cost of medical treatment.
The police report stated that the primary officer charged in the lawsuit responded to a complaint that a man was driving a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle at excessive speed and in a reckless manner on city streets.
The officer reportedly observed the suspect on Wintergreen Avenue and engaged in pursuit. Martin's ATV drove into New Haven, through the parking lot of an elderly housing complex, and back into Hamden.
While ole Britt was crusing around town, the officer observed him running through red lights, making illegal turns and driving well in excess of the speed limit during the chase.
The officer's report said he broke off the pursuit of the speeding off-road vehicle twice, finally apprehending Martin at the accident scene.
Martin was charged with reckless driving, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, driving an uninsured motor vehicle and driving without a license.
How about adding a charge for his BS lawsuit as well?
Source: The Hamden Journal (Connecticut), "Cops blamed for ATV crash," December 29, 2004.
