Heroes or Vigilantes? Canadian citizens go on 100-mph chase in Porsche 997 to catch suspected rapist
Here's the facts: Two Canadian men in a Porsche 997 encountered a woman (who jumped in front of their car) claiming that a man in a nearby Pontiac Wave (that's a Chevrolet Aveo to me and you) had just tried to assault her. The woman climbed in the back of the 997, and with the police on the phone, the Porsche boys chased the Pontiac all over Ottawa at speeds up to 170 km/h (around 105 mph). The chase, which sometimes involved residential roads, lasted about 20 minutes with the perp finally heading the wrong way through a McDonald's drive through and entering a roadblock set up by the police.
Now, of course, the police knew where the Pontiac was because of the actions of the men in the Porsche. And therein lies the dilemma. In Canada, "some [are] hailing the men as heroes while others are denouncing them as reckless cowboys." Ottawa Police Chief Vern White says that the dispatcher should have told the men in the Porsche to stop their pursuit – but didn't. As far as heroics, "When they put her in the back of the car, that was heroism," White said. "What happened after wasn't." Your thoughts? Thanks to Ben for the tip!
[Source: TheStar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Fazzster 2:05PM (9/23/2009)
Hero
Reply
petee209 2:13PM (9/23/2009)
+1. Awesome story.
Orubasarot 2:15PM (9/23/2009)
But my goodness! In some places that's more than 10 miles per hour OVER the speed of traffic, these men are maniacs, oh I'm getting dizzy.
2004m3driver 2:16PM (9/23/2009)
Heroes until they get in a car accident at 105 mph or someone else gets hurt because of them. Catch up get the license plate number and a picture. Its all fun and games until someone gets hurt that shouldn't have been a part of this.
HotRodzNKustoms 2:27PM (9/23/2009)
Agreed Hero as long as nothing goes bad which nothing did go bad.
BIG 2:28PM (9/23/2009)
Heroes.
Paul 2:32PM (9/23/2009)
Hero: If this was a fender bender hit-and-run I'd say it was stupid but we're talking about *rape* here. That's the lowest form of criminal and I'd say they probably did the right thing in going the distance to catch him. Still, if the law comes down on them (they did break the law), extenuating circumstances exist and should be factored in.
Who wouldn't take a point on their license if it meant getting a rapist off the street?
Ben 2:49PM (9/23/2009)
Sounds like movie material to me! w00t! =]
Aprime 2:54PM (9/23/2009)
... Rapist, in my town, with my car?
SAY IT AIN'T SO
cdwrx 2:55PM (9/23/2009)
Hero and vigilante are not the same, neither are they mutually exclusive.
Randy 5:02PM (9/23/2009)
Heroes - There's no debate!
.... and now here comes the debate right?
Josh 5:11PM (9/23/2009)
Agreed, hero so long as no one got hurt.
James 7:55PM (9/23/2009)
Good "Porsche" Samaritans...are definite heroes!!
Indefinite Implosion 2:10AM (9/24/2009)
Hero.
Partly for the fact they were able to speed, tell the cops about it and not get in trouble!
james 5:10AM (9/24/2009)
If these guys are prosecuted it will be a shame. The Police Chief even says the dispatcher should have called the chase off - i.e. he's admitting they were perhaps encouraged. HEROES all the same. I wonder if the backlash would be so bad if they weren't driving a (capitalist pig) Porsche. "Those Porsche drivers think they're above the law!" Personally I can't think of a better chase vehicle, especially if it was a Turbo!
Tony C 11:08AM (9/24/2009)
Sad day when a Porsche 997 can't catch a 3-cylinder econobox... Who woulda thought that thing could even get over 100mph?
travisty 2:06PM (9/23/2009)
I would far rather trust a Porche doing 105mph than an Aveo...
Reply
travisty 2:06PM (9/23/2009)
Porsche. Stupid lack of edit button...
Mike P. 2:08PM (9/23/2009)
Yeah, the thing that hit me most about this story was: "Pontiac Wave? 170 km/h? For real?"
Farris 2:14PM (9/23/2009)
Mike: I thought the same thing. Can an Aveo even go 105 mph?