By Staff
Minor injuries; Highway Patrol is investigating
By CLAUD HODGES
Senior Reporter
The head-on collision involving two Washington Police Department cruisers Monday night resulted in no serious injuries.
The accident occurred during the chase of a suspect.
The drivers of the two police cars were transported to Beaufort County Hospital where they were treated and released. Both cars were severely damaged. The accident happened at approximately 6 p.m. on Cooper Street near West 13th Street.
Sgt. William Dale Radcliff and Cpl. Jerry John Seighman, drivers of the cars, were assisting detectives who were either on foot or in unmarked vehicles. The officers were chasing Carlos Terrell Glaspie, 37, a resident of East Fifth Street, Washington, according to the police department.
Glaspie was wanted on several charges — felony assault by strangulation, felony second-degree burglary, habitual misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor assault on a female. Glaspie was apprehended. He was not carrying a weapon when arrested.
The police department released Glaspie to the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, which took him to Pitt County, where he was placed in jail after appearing before a magistrate.
Following standard protocol, the department requested the N.C. Highway Patrol investigate the collision, Reed said in an interview Tuesday. The department is conducting an internal investigation, he said.
Sgt. Radcliff became a Washington police officer on Aug. 7, 2006.
Cpl. Seighman joined the department on May 31, 1987.
According to Reed, there is no record of either officer having an accident while on duty.
Preliminary findings show that neither vehicle was traveling more than 44 mph, the chief said. Reed said the Highway Patrol investigation will determine specific speeds of each vehicle.
Until the Highway Patrol completes its investigation, it cannot be determined if either car’s emergency lights were on at the time of the collision, Reed said.
The Highway Patrol’s investigation and the department’s internal investigation will determine whether one or both of the officers will face charges and/or suspensions from the department, Reed said.
Reed said incident will not result in a reduction in the department’s manpower or change standard operating procedures. The department has enough patrol cars in reserve to meet its needs, Reed said.