Persistent Minnesota Officer Carries Out Three PIT Maneuvers to Stop Driver of Stolen Truck

A persistent police officer in Ramsey County, Minnesota, carried out three “precision immobilization technique,” or PIT maneuvers, before stopping the driver of a stolen pickup truck who attempted to flee from officers early on Thursday, June 1.

Footage released by Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office shows the chase, which started in St. Paul and ended in Columbia Heights.

The sheriff’s office said Sgt. Mark “Sticks” Suchy first found himself behind the black Ford F-150 early on Thursday morning. Upon discovering that the vehicle had stolen license plates, Suchy activated his emergency lights, causing the driver to flee.

After chasing the vehicle onto Central Avenue North East in Columbia Heights, the driver swerved into oncoming traffic, the sheriff’s office said.

Lacking an overhead helicopter view Suchy “made his move”, carrying out three PIT maneuvers which the sheriff’s office described as “part art, part science” to end the chase.

The driver attempted to make off on foot but was taken into police custody.

“One stolen pickup truck recovered. One reckless driver off the streets. And not just one PIT maneuver, but three. All in all, another example of great work by your Ramsey County sheriff’s deputies,” the sheriff’s office wrote. Credit: Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office via Storyful

Video Transcript

[SIRENS]

- West 634.

[SIRENS]

Everyone coming. 10-4.

[SIRENS]

- 2234.

- Speed at 90.

[SIRENS]

- [INAUDIBLE] going Westbound 694.

[SIRENS]

- Yes.

[SIRENS]

- 31.

[SIRENS]

- Speed is 96, left lane.

[SIRENS]

- Traffic continuing 964 passing. Speed at 96.

[SIRENS]

- Got permission to get in?

- Patrol. Fight for sticks at Long Lake.

[SIRENS]

- Copy. We're coming. Right lane.

[SIRENS]

Missed the 6. Westbound 294.

[SIRENS]

Light traffic.

[SIRENS]

- Light traffic.

[SIRENS]

- Going forward.

- Passing Silver Lake.

[SIRENS]

- At Silver.

[SIRENS]

- Speed is 85, still Westbound.

[SIRENS]

- Copy.

[SIRENS]

- Not recommended.

[SIRENS]

Slow down. He may get off here.

[SIRENS]

- Your incident has been updated.

- Central.

- Copy to Central.

[SIRENS]

- Number one. He's going to be going.

- Southbound Central of 694.

- OK, Southbound Central.

[SIRENS]

- I just played it at least three times.

[SIRENS]

Now he's going in the wrong lane.

[SIRENS]

- 216 and 2 on.

[SIRENS]

- They're going to be attempting the 5th. Going the wrong lane on. Traffic is on Central.

[SIRENS]

- Central Cell to 1. Central Cell to 1.

[SIRENS]

- Pivoted. He's going again.

- Copy Pivoted. Silver Lake.

[SIRENS]

- There you go. Get him in.

[SIRENS]

- Copy. 49 Southbound.

- Continue Southbound.

[SIRENS]

- Individual is running Eastbound. The same graphic.

[SIRENS]

- Captain in the box.

[SIRENS]

- I'm coming in.

- Have the vehicle at gunpoint. Can I get an updated location?

- Your incident has been updated.

- Getting the driver into custody. Give you an address here in a second.