OFFICERS KILLED DEPLOYING STOP STICKS
by Craig W. Floyd
October 4, 2005

Mark Carthron knew the dangers of becoming an Arkansas State Trooper long before he ever decided to become one. The father of one of his classmates and friends was a state trooper who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in 1984. The slain trooper's name was Louis Bryant.

Maybe it was the fact that his t-ball coach, Sergeant Bill Fuller, was a member of the Arkansas State Police and had left quite an impression on the youngster. But, no matter the reason, Mark overlooked the dangers of the job and made the choice to join the ranks of the Arkansas State Police eight years ago. By all accounts he was one of the best. It all ended, though, when robbers attempted to elude police during a high-speed chase on the evening of Sunday, September 11, 2005. Trooper Carthron had deployed spike sticks to deflate the tires of the suspect vehicle. His efforts were successful and the suspects were captured, but as he went to retrieve the spike sticks from the roadway, he was struck by one of the pursuing patrol vehicles and mortally wounded. He died the next morning.

With the growing number of law officers and innocent citizens being killed or injured in high speed chases, more and more departments are changing their policies to limit the number of police pursuits. A popular alternative has been the use of spike strips to disable a fleeing vehicle. But, unfortunately, there is increasing evidence that the deployment of these spike strips, or "stop sticks" as they are commonly referred, pose their own unique hazard to law enforcement personnel.

In fact, Corporal Carthron was the second law enforcement officer in less than a week killed while deploying stop sticks. On September 6, Lino Lakes (MN) Police Officer Shawn Silvera was struck and killed by a fleeing fugitive driving a stolen car. The suspect, who was wanted on a felony assault warrant, took police on a 13-mile chase at speeds in excess of 100 mph. Officer Silvera had deployed stop sticks across the highway and was standing in the median strip when the suspect vehicle swerved around the sticks and into the median, striking and killing Officer Silvera.

A citizen who witnessed part of the chase and aftermath said, "I just feel so sorry for the police officers. It's such a dangerous job, and it's got to be tough trying to make the right call in these things."

The first officer killed in the United States while deploying stop sticks occurred on May 29, 1996. His name was John Creegan, a deputy sheriff with the Orange County (FL) Sheriff's Office. Deputies had attempted to stop an 18-year-old car thief, but the driver attempted to escape at speeds of about 90 mph. "He was giving them the finger, shooting the bird at the deputies [in pursuit]," said Sheriff's Commander Steve Jones. Deputy Creegan set up a roadblock along the highway and was arranging the stop sticks when the suspect vehicle approached and fatally struck the 37-year-old deputy, who had joined the law enforcement ranks after a distinguished 18-year career in the Navy.

On June 11, 1998, Kansas City (KS) Police Sergeant Rick Asten was deploying stop sticks when a man driving a stolen vehicle swerved his car and intentionally struck the 14-year police veteran. One of his colleagues said, "He wasn't doing anything heroic. He was doing exactly what he was supposed to do.".

In 2001, New Mexico State Police Patrolman Lloyd R. Aragon Sr. was on his way to testify in a court case when he and his partner were alerted to a vehicle pursuit over their police radio. Two men with long rap sheets had been accused of shoplifting a nasal decongestant from the local Wal-Mart. When their vehicle was determined to be stolen, police gave chase. Patrolman Aragon had deployed road spikes, but the suspect vehicle swerved, striking and killing the 37-year-old officer.

Later that same year, Austin (TX) Police Officer Clinton Hunter, 22, was deploying stop sticks when he was struck and killed by a drunken felon out on parole. He left behind a 21-year-old wife and two-year-old daughter.

All totaled, there have been 11 law enforcement officers in the United States killed deploying stop sticks. Five of those officers died during 2003.


They included:
Deputy Sheriff John W. Musice of the Wilson County (TN) Sheriff's Department


and Sergeant Jerry A. Mundy of the Mount Juliet (TN) Police Department, who died in the same incident;





Vermont State Police Sergeant Michael W. Johnson;








and Deputy Charles T. Sease of the Flagler County (FL) Sheriff's Office.

The death of Davis County (IA) Deputy Dennis R. McElderry on January 3, 2003, was especially traumatic for the local law enforcement community. Not only was he struck and killed, but the vehicle that hit him was driven by another deputy sheriff from a neighboring county. Deputy McElderry had helped to set up a road block to stop a fleeing suspect. After the suspect's car sped past the road block, Deputy McElderry went to retrieve the spikes and was struck by another deputy involved in the chase.

Letters from two of his three children were read at Deputy McElderry's funeral. "Being a deputy sheriff was the best thing that ever happened to him," wrote his 15-year-old daughter, Jennifer. "He died doing what he lived for."

"Maybe I'll see him in heaven," wrote eight-year-old Taylor.