Sister of victim of fatal high-speed chase pushes for changes

BELMONT, N.C. — Ellen Deitz Tucker listened to the police shout commands, and watched the suspect drive off the interstate and back on in the dash camera video of the police chase that led to her sister's death one year ago.

"And he crashed into the car," said Tucker.

Donna Deitz and former Belmont mayor Kevin Loftin were hit and killed by a man who sped through a police checkpoint and hit Loftin's car as they left Ash Wednesday services last year.

Wednesday is Ash Wednesday.

"I'm going to go back to the church that Donna worshiped at," said Tucker.

She said she is also going to continue her fight to stop chases like this.

"I want to prevent other people from being killed," said Tucker.

She wants Belmont's chief to adopt her draft for a change in the police pursuit policy.

Her draft said officers cannot chase a car unless there is an immediate threat death to others.

"I can't understand the justification for a police pursuit unless you are trying to prevent another threat to life," said Tucker.

She wants Police Chief Charlie Franklin to add her suggestions to his proposed changes.

"There comes times when we have to pursue people and bad things happen sometimes," said Franklin.

He said he will review draft.

"I understand what she is feeling," said Franklin.

But he said he feels set with changes he presented to the Safety Review Board last night.

His revision said Belmont police will no longer chase people wanted on misdemeanors.

He said under his suggested changes the officers last year would have had cause to continue the chase.

"This is a good policy," said Franklin.

Franklin said the cutoff date for input is Friday.

"Why does it have to be accomplished in four days?" asked Tucker.

Franklin said he is not rushing to make a policy change.

He's waiting for input from the Safety Review Board and then his proposed changes will take effect on March 1st.1.

WSOC