(North County Beat) – San Diego’s pursuit policy is under renewed scrutiny following a tragic incident involving a 16-year-old driver fleeing police, which resulted in the death of Officer Austin Machitar and the driver, Edgar Giovanny Oviedo, as well as the serious injury of Officer Zach Martinez. The collision occurred on August 26, weeks after a police oversight group suggested revising the city’s pursuit policy to limit chases to incidents involving violent felonies. Currently, San Diego police can pursue suspects for infractions or misdemeanors, but the recent crash may intensify discussions around these policies.
The crash is under investigation by a specialized accident reconstruction unit from the California Highway Patrol, which will determine how the department’s pursuit policy may have played a role. The San Diego Commission on Police Practices, which had previously recommended revising the pursuit policy, declined to comment on the recent incident but expressed condolences for the fallen officer and commended Police Chief Scott Wahl for requesting an independent investigation.
The pursuit that led to the crash began when police spotted a car speeding on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued to flee. The pursuit was called off due to the high speeds involved, but shortly after, the fleeing vehicle crashed into a patrol car occupied by Officers Machitar and Martinez.
San Diego’s current pursuit policy allows chases based on probable cause of a committed infraction, misdemeanor, or felony. Officers must weigh the risks of continuing a chase against the benefits of immediate apprehension. This policy came under review after a similar deadly crash in December, when a fleeing driver caused an accident that killed two children.
In response to that incident, the city’s Commission on Police Practices formed a committee to review the pursuit policy. The committee compared San Diego’s procedures with national recommendations and those of 24 other police agencies. The review revealed that 60 percent of San Diego’s pursuits were initiated for infractions, and 20 percent resulted in collisions, often with injuries.
The commission’s recommendations include restricting pursuits to violent felonies, establishing a review board for pursuits, and publishing quarterly data on chases. However, these recommendations have faced resistance from the San Diego Police Officers Association, which argues that such restrictions could prevent officers from pursuing suspects involved in serious crimes like human trafficking or domestic violence.
Previous attempts to revise the pursuit policy, such as after a fatal 1999 crash involving a police chase, have also faced challenges, and it remains to be seen whether the recent tragedy will lead to any significant changes.
