The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched a mandatory investigation into a police pursuit that left a 19-year-old motorcyclist with catastrophic spinal injuries in Bristol on February 28.
The incident began when an Avon and Somerset Police patrol car attempted to stop a motorcycle for a suspected traffic violation. The rider, identified as Jayden Okonkwo, failed to stop and a pursuit ensued for approximately 2.4 miles through residential streets. Okonkwo lost control at a junction and struck a lamppost.
Paramedics airlifted Okonkwo to Southmead Hospital, where doctors determined he is likely permanently paralyzed from the waist down. No police vehicle made contact with the motorcycle before the crash.
Pursuit policies under review
The IOPC is examining whether officers complied with force policy, which generally prohibits pursuits of motorcycles due to the elevated risk of serious injury. 'We are reviewing body-worn camera footage, vehicle telemetry, and dispatch recordings,' said IOPC Director Amanda Rowe.
Avon and Somerset Police have voluntarily suspended the two officers involved from frontline duties pending the investigation. The force has also initiated a wider review of its pursuit training.
This is a devastating outcome for a young man and his family. Our investigation will establish whether the pursuit was justified and whether all protocols were followed.
The Okonkwo family has retained legal counsel and is considering a civil claim against the police. A GoFundMe campaign to support his medical care has raised over £85,000 as of this writing.
