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PITTSBURGH (AP) — A police chase that killed three people has Pennsylvania officials debating the use of tire-slashing devices to prevent suspects from fleeing during traffic stops.
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. wants to buy the $140 devices so officers can use them to flatten a tire if the driver takes off.
But local police agencies tell The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette they fear officers could be vulnerable when they bend down to place the spiked sticks under a car.
The debate comes as Zappala reviews the Thanksgiving Day chase that killed a couple and their 2-year-old when their car was struck by a suspect fleeing at more than 100 miles per hour.
Authorities say 22-year-old Demetrius Coleman of Homewood fled as an officer learned he was being sought over a probation violation.
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Information from: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, http://www.post-gazette.com
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