To the editor:

Disturbed, yes I am.

I witnessed the high-speed chase by Columbus Police Department through our city. My granddaughter received her learner’s permit the day before this incident and I had allowed her to drive to the Waffle House for breakfast. I shudder to think of what might have been if we had still been on the road.

In my opinion our police department is there to protect and serve. I felt very little protection when I witnessed cars speeding by as if they were at Charlotte Speedway. Have we as citizens not supplied tax money to buy radios? Surely other departments could have been notified to block the roads.

Another witness in Tryon said the Columbus Police Department’s car was only inches behind the fugitives’ auto when they sped through their streets. They also said the highway patrol was four cars back and was not allowed to get to the fugitives.

It is my understanding that the highway patrol is the only unit that is allowed to spinout a fleeing vehicle. If this is so, then why was the trooper not allowed to pass the local units and stop the fugitive?

– J. R. Pack