Tampa’s CBS affiliate reports:

New questions follow about what police said happened before a car crash in Ybor City early Saturday morning. Four people were killed and 13 others were injured. A Florida Highway Patrol cruiser chased the car, suspected of speeding and racing earlier in the night, but slowed down about 20 seconds before the crash.

Where Tampa Police say the chase ended does not match up with their own video. We spent Monday trying to get clarification from TPD and FHP but both agencies refused to comment, declining to answer questions about why what they said doesn’t match what was shown in police helicopter footage.

10 Tampa Bay matched that video with where it happened on the ground and discovered that the chase went thousands of feet farther along 7th Avenue than police claim.

Hoodline Tampa reports:

The pursuit policy of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is under intense scrutiny following a high-speed chase that resulted in a catastrophic crash in Ybor City, leaving four dead and multiple injured. The chase, which ended in tragedy outside the popular LGBTQ+ nightclub, Bradley’s on 7th, has sparked a debate over the safety and the appropriateness of such law enforcement tactics, particularly in populated areas. Adding to the controversy, an inquiry into the pursuit revealed discrepancies between official police statements and helicopter footage of the chase.

Moreover, FHP’s modified pursuit policy, which allows for a broader range of offenses to justify a chase, comes into question as noted by Attorney Anthony Rickman who highlighted an uptick in fatalities relating to FHP pursuits following these amendments. A response from Madison Kessler, communications director for the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, reiterated the culpability of the driver, asserting that “Our troopers followed policy, disengaged prior to when the suspect entered a crowded area, and the driver lost control on his own.”