Houston Uber driver's video raises questions of police actions
Houston Uber video raises questions about police actions
A video of Houston police jumping into an Uber driver's vehicle has raised questions about whether he was legally forced to help. FOX 26's Mekenna Earnhart shares the story from the driver himself and turned to the Houston Police Officer's Union for an answer.
HOUSTON, Texas - A routine shift for a local rideshare driver turned into a scene straight out of an action movie earlier this month after Houston police officers pursuing a fleeing suspect jumped into his car and asked for a lift.
‘Go, go, go, go!’
The backstory:
Anthony Baines, an Army veteran who has driven for Uber for two years, was on his way to pick up a passenger on Aug. 7 when the wild scene unfolded.
Officers had responded to a terroristic threat call on Seventh Street after a man allegedly threatened to shoot a woman and her kids at an apartment pool. When officers tried to detain the suspect, he broke free and took off running.
Dashcam video shows the suspect sprinting past Baines' car with officers close behind. That's when one officer opened the door, hopped into the passenger seat, and shouted, "Go, go, go, go!"
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'I was just really in shock'
What they're saying:
Baines said his eight years of military service—including a deployment to Iraq—kept him cool under pressure.
"I was just really in shock about what was taking place," Baines said. "This is something that I kind of think about only happened in like action movies where somebody was pursuing a person and they call for a civilian to help... I just was in the heat of the moment running off that adrenaline."
Baines gave the winded officers a lift around the block so they could reach their squad car and resume the search. The suspect ended up slipping away and remains at large, but the ride made for an unforgettable night.
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What rights civilians have
What they're saying:
The wild detour raised questions for Baines about what rights civilian drivers have when thrust into the middle of a police pursuit.
Houston Police Officers' Union President Doug Griffith cleared the air, explaining that while officers always appreciate a helping hand, nobody is legally forced to play getaway driver for the cops.
"There's nothing that prohibits anyone from doing it," Griffith said. "There is also nothing that prohibits them from going, 'No, I'm not going to do that, I don't want to be involved.' There's nothing that forces or compels anyone to help out."
Griffith praised Baines for stepping up to help officers who were chasing what he joked was "the fastest kid alive."
Dig deeper:
As for Baines' original Uber customer? In a twist of legendary patience, the rider actually waited through the whole ordeal.
Baines drove just one block over right after dropping off the cops and successfully picked up his passenger, who was completely unaware of the drama—aside from the police helicopters buzzing overhead.
While Baines called it "by far the wildest experience" of his two years on the job—not everyone in his house was celebrating his heroic detour.
"She was not that happy that I allowed myself to be put in such a situation," Baines admitted with a laugh, referring to his wife's reaction.
What's next:
Police say the investigation into the original incident remains ongoing.
The Source: Anthony Baines, Uber driver and 8-year Army Iraq War veteran Doug Griffith, Houston Police Officer & President of the Houston Police Officers' Union