A suspect died Wednesday after a police pursuit that started in Moore and ended near Interstate 35 in Norman when officers used a tactical vehicle intervention and then fired shots, authorities said. The chase brought in a heavy law enforcement presence, shut down part of the roadway, and left investigators processing the scene for hours. Police have not released the suspect’s name or said what triggered the pursuit.
Investigators told KOCO 5 the pursuit began near 27th Street and the I-35 service road in Moore, then headed south along I-35 toward Norman. The chase ended near Tecumseh Road and 24th Avenue Northwest, where officers used a Tactical Vehicle Intervention, or TVI, to stop the suspect’s vehicle. Officers then fired at the suspect, although police told KOCO 5 they could not yet say whether those shots caused the suspect’s death.
What A TVI Is And How Moore Police Use It
A Tactical Vehicle Intervention, sometimes called a PIT maneuver, is a coordinated move where officers use their patrol car to tap and spin a fleeing vehicle so it comes to a stop. The Moore Police Department’s pursuit policy limits TVIs to officers who are properly trained and instructs that any intervention must be weighed against potential risks to bystanders and other drivers. The policy also notes that shooting at a moving vehicle is usually not an effective tactic and should be used only when deadly-force standards are met, according to the Moore Police Department policy manual.
Moore Has Used TVIs Before
Moore officers have used TVIs in previous pursuits caught on camera. In April, dashcam and aerial video showed officers performing a TVI that spun a suspect’s vehicle into a church parking lot during a short chase, as reported by KOCO 5, highlighting how the department leans on the maneuver to stop potentially dangerous runs.
Investigation Underway
Authorities blocked off the area around the end of Wednesday’s pursuit and continued to process the scene while detectives documented evidence and interviewed officers. Investigators say more information will be released as the inquiry moves forward. No officers were injured during the incident.
What Comes Next
Under department and state procedures, pursuits that end with force are subject to supervisory review, formal documentation, and possible outside investigation. The county medical examiner will determine the official cause and manner of the suspect’s death, while prosecutors evaluate whether any legal action is warranted. Moore’s policy also instructs supervisors to weigh the overall risk to the public before approving intervention tactics such as TVIs, according to the Moore Police Department policy manual.
