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It feels rare these days that an old-school crime can get resolved with old-school methods. If you tune into the news, it seems to be mostly mass murder, international conflict, and the threat of political collapse. I’m not saying that cooking meth and running from the police is a good thing, but at least it’s a crime that can be processed and dealt with and doesn’t fray the fabric of our society. There’s something comforting about a simple crime being stopped by a faster car simple maneuver. Watch this Florida Meth stopped by police with a flawless PIT maneuver.

Police cruiser performing a PIT maneuver.
PIT maneuver | YouTube: Midwest Safety

Flordia meth traffickers chased and caught 

According to CarScoops, a 21-year man and his 30-year-old female companion attempted to run from Florida police. After gathering evidence suggesting that Adam Crosby and Samantha Simpson might be involved in the trafficking of methamphetamines, the Florida Highway Patrol attempted a traffic stop that turned into a dramatic car chase. The couple fled down I-95 in Brevard County, FL, and the police followed. 

Dedicated to stopping Crosby’s black Honda Accord, the local authorities got the go-ahead to perform a classic pursuit offensive move known as the PIT maneuver. The cop’s dashcam had a front-row seat when the police cruiser perfectly tapped the left rear wheel area of the Honda. As if on ice, the moment the police cruiser put its weight into the rear quarter panel of the Honda, Crosby’s would-be getaway car lost control. It spun into the nearby median, smashing into the cross-traffic barrier. 

What happens if you run from the police? 

Crosby and Simpson learned that if you run from the police, they will try whatever they can to stop you. Not only did the police destroy Crosby’s car, but they also laid a smattering of charges against the couple. 

According to Click Orlando, once in police custody, Crosby told the police he ran because he had just gotten out of jail and “had too much to lose.” He also refused medical transport. The couple was arrested and brought to Brevard County Jail. 

Since Crosby was the driver, he was hit with the majority of the charges: fleeing and eluding police, reckless driving, possessing a blank, forged, or stolen ID, driving with a suspended license, using or possessing paraphernalia to transport drugs, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. Simpson didn’t get off, although she was only charged with two counts of parole violation. Simpson will appear in court on May 15 and Crosby on June 1. 

What is a PIT maneuver, and how do you do it? 

According to Police1, PIT is an acronym meaning precision immobilization technique (PIT). Law enforcement has been using this technique since the 1980s with astounding results. The beauty of the PIT move is that it is extremely effective without being overly dangerous. The idea is that the pursuing vehicle overlaps the rear quarter of the vehicle being pursued. Once the pursuing vehicle matches the speed of the lead vehicle, the pursuing vehicle uses its front bumper to push the lead car from behind the rear wheel on either side. Upon making contact, the pursuing vehicle turns the steering wheel one-quarter turn toward the lead vehicle, then immediately turns the wheel back to the direction of travel. 

This works so well because it pushes the lead vehicle’s weight off the back wheels, along with the sideways motion, to force a break in traction. In theory, once the lead car has spun, the pursuing vehicle should park next to it to block it in. In police action, multiple squad cars would be ready to block the car. 

While the PIT is designed to stop the accused without injury, it doesn’t always work that way. Thankfully, in this PIT maneuver, all parties went home (or jailed) without injury.