Stockton Downtown Police Chase

I was coming home from a few county meetings, with the radios on, and monitoring police activity for the heck of it. Frankly, I was hoping for some vegetation fire somewhere, and have a chance to jump into my yellows and get some photos taken.

Well, things did not turn out that far from it. As I enter the video store to rent a movie (Transporter 3), I heard of a 211 that had taken place (Bank robbery). A couple of mins later, when I stepped back out, there was a full on street pursuit through the many streets of stockton. I started heading in the right direction, though the street calling by the second chase unit was slightly garbled, and not as easy to enter into the GPS for search. I started nailing some intersections, and then I got a hunch that the perps would end up going towards the railroad. traffic was light on my end, and so it was according to the reporting officers. So I kept moving, until they said that the suspects had bailed out at the railyard. I raced to the scene, and parked just as the officers and deputies were tackling down the bad guys.

I had my 30D with me, and my siggy 18-50. So I took out my ID, pinned it to my belt, and then I proceeded to go after everyone. Nobody gave me trouble -Granted I held my pass in one hand and camera in the other motionless, until waved in- and I took a few pics of the broken car. Tires had blown out, which was likely the cause of bailout. I snapped a couple of more pics, as I knew the cops would be all over it in just a few more seconds. After a few train tracks, I got to the arrest area. About 100yds south there was a mini group of LEOs with a suspect being pushed into a patrol car (which I could not photograph well with a 50mm) and to my right -just a few yards away- the other perp was already inside the cruiser. Not two minutes had gone by, that a train -freighter, quite long- was about to pass. Had the badguys timed it a bit, it would have been to their advantage.

I had a chance to hang out by the cruiser, though I was not on official assignment, and so I refrained from standing in front of the back door of the patrol and taking a pic of the suspect (this is a big no no, 99% of the reasons photogs whinning about getting arrested).

Anyhow, here are some of the pics. Let me know if you want to see more.

Oh!.. By the time I was leaving (crossing back the rails and actually stepping onto the street, the local rag (Stock Recor) photog was starting to take pics.

All in all, my Taco Bell dinner was a bit cold when I got home, but I had a good deal of fun through this intense journalistic experience.

These pics could not be rehearsed or retaken easily, but I still would love to hear what you think of them... yes / waste of time / amateurish / Don't give up the Pole Dancing Class...

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So the first frame shows the suspect talking to the cop in the cruiser for SPD, while the other two officers wave the train engineer off (I thought it made for a great photo).

The second one is after the train passed, within 5 mins the cops were all over the vehicle, looking for the robbery clues, money, guns, etc.

And this last one is the same suspect car, but on my way into the scene, where it still lay undisturbed and unsearched.

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i love the first one, to me it shows a relaxed atmosphere. as if to say "it wasnt a big deal, all under control now"

im also a little biased i guess (trying to be an officer still)

The steam train will be pulling into Stockton at about 11am coming in from the south to the station. UP.com has the schedule and route.
The first is my favorite Good catch on the photos.

Yeah, I parked with one of the sarges (no hair, standing by the waving dude to the train) jumped out of his ride and ran through the railroad yard. I was out and running with my camera when the west team aprehended one of them, and sarge tackled the other one. I got there to him after taking the pics of the bailed out car (which perhaps you can help, does it not have signs of a little 'ramming' action by the PD? ). Once the dude was inside the cruiser, the only tension was heard between the suspect and the police officer talking to him, the train was approaching fast so that noise sort of gave an unrealistic feel to everything. Detectives were already getting to the scene (bold guy on civies clothing on last photo), and I assume they took care of any other business. I did not stick around much longer, the concentration of LEOs was increasing, and there were active railroad tracks, lots of people, I needed to get the heck out of there, so that I can always be invited back. Great key, an old Cartier Bresson gem "get ready, take the shot, get out". Never had a problem. Wish I could have guessed the turn of events and been closer though.

I like the first shot too.

Where's all the cash!?!?!??

PsychoMaiko wrote in post #7779189
Where's all the cash!?!?!??

No clue, it was never found.

I did however buy five 1Ds Mark III, and all the red ringed/white glass from the Central Valley. Uhm, it was an inheritance. Yeah...

but why?........ are you showing up Saturday in a Cayman?

meh_meli wrote in post #7779419
but why?........ are you showing up Saturday in a Cayman?

Surpriiiiiiise !!! How'd you guess!?

Actually, I will give Bling-bling a whole new meaning.

PhotoJourno wrote in post #7779430
Surpriiiiiiise !!! How'd you guess!?

Actually, I will give Bling-bling a whole new ring .

Get photos of the steam train and you may.