They force the municipal checkpoint and escape at breakneck speed to Quarrata. It happened last night at 1.45, when a patrol of motorcyclists from the Prato municipal police ordered a Renault Clio to stop as it was wandering at very low speed near the public gardens with two men on board.
The driver, instead of stopping, accelerated rapidly and fled with the vehicle, driving in the wrong direction in the Soccorso area and then on the Declassata towards Pistoia at over 180 km/h, chased by two patrol cars that were rammed several times by the driver.
The chase continued in the Quarrata area where the car made risky overtaking and maneuvers in the wrong direction, even crossing a private garden. The chase lasted almost 20 kilometers, ending in Selva Bassa, where the two men, now hunted, abandoned the car and attempted to escape on foot through the fields. However, they were caught and stopped by the officers, who had alerted the local carabinieri.
The two men, of North African origin, were found to be illegal immigrants and had previous convictions for drug dealing. The driver also did not have a license and was found to be intoxicated.
Detained one night in the municipal security rooms, the two were reported for resisting in connection with the dangerous escape and now risk up to 5 years in prison. The car was seized and the dozens of violations committed for dangerous driving were contested, amounting to over 1000 euros in fines.
“Our municipal police demonstrate great competence and ability in controlling the territory every day – states the mayor Ilaria Bugetti – I am proud of the work that is carried out daily in many sectors with quality, high specialization and constant commitment. It is the contribution that our municipal police makes to city security to help the carabinieri, police, financial police and in general all police bodies to guarantee our citizens the tranquility to which they are entitled. We have the task of supporting it by strengthening its staff and equipment and asking the government, which has exclusive competence over security, to do the same with its police forces because this is what Prato deserves. For this reason we want to do even more than we are entitled to by strengthening the patrolling service of voluntary associations in the most complicated areas coordinated by the municipal police. It has proven to work and to be appreciated by the population.”
