High-Speed Chase

Monroe police officers apprehended a local man following a high-speed chase through portions of south Monroe on March 11, 2021. The suspect was identified as Steven Turner, 32, of Monroe. According to reports, the alleged suspect was seen exiting a residence on the south side and fled in a vehicle when he saw police officers. As police officers gave chase, reports say speeds reached approximately 100mph. The pursuit allegedly was on portions of South 8th Street as Turner tried to elude police officers, heading north towards the intersection of South 8th at Texas Ave. Texas Ave. is a busy major two-way east-west street in South Monroe that has been the scene of multiple accidents in years past. Turner allegedly hit two vehicles at the intersection, and a third was struck, causing injuries to an infant in one of the vehicles.

According to reports, Turner allegedly went through the intersection with law enforcement close to him as the chase was still in progress. Turner would run into a stop sign and a street sign at South 8th and Louise Anne St., only a few blocks from the Monroe Civic Center. Turner allegedly hit an individual on a bicycle at that spot, and his vehicle received damage when it stopped. He was apprehended on the spot, and after getting a search warrant, the officer went back to the residence that Turner left and found drugs at the residence.

Following his arrest, Turner is charged with possession of a firearm/concealment by a convicted felon, distribution, and also manufacture/distribute/intent schedule 4 narcotic, drug-free zone drug possession. The Monroe Dispatch, along with the community, applauds law enforcement officers for fighting crime. However, from many in the community on the southside, the sight of a high-speed pursuit from police officers chasing an alleged suspect on narrow two-way streets has to be frightening. South 8th is one of those streets where a police officer’s life was lost following what many said was a high-speed chase.

The homes on many of the streets on the southside are close to the street, leaving a very small margin of space for quick/decisive maneuvers from speeders if one needs to swerve. The fact that a crash happened at Texas Ave and South 8th St. is troubling for residents because, on the “best of days” of traffic flow, South 8th at Texas Ave has been a significant concern for residents. The fact that an infant was injured during a high-speed chase is a concern because things could have turned out so much worse. Maybe this incident will give city officials a pause of concern regarding high-speed chases in neighborhoods where the speed limit averages 25mph. So many things beyond even the most experienced drivers can happen when there may be scant seconds to avoid a catastrophic event, where there is a high probability of serious injury, and God forbid, death. An infant and someone on a bicycle may not be able to crawl or walk away the next time.