Gripping video shows NC trooper risking his life to crash police cruiser into car of accused drunk driver: 'Most undoubtedly saved lives'



A North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper is being heralded as a hero for putting himself in danger to stop a suspected drunk driver. The brave and selfless actions of the state trooper may have saved lives.

In the early morning hours of April 8, several police officers were in pursuit of a driver accused of driving while intoxicated. North Carolina State Highway Patrol said Trooper Cody Thao joined the effort to stop an alleged drunk driver to prevent innocent people from being harmed or killed by the erratic driver.

The suspect – Joshua Ray Bibey – was speeding up an exit ramp in the wrong traffic direction. Thao was coming off the exit ramp in the correct direction. With only seconds to make a decision, Thao unselfishly and gallantly steered his police cruiser towards the oncoming vehicle. Thao's patrol car violently collided with the 26-year-old suspect's vehicle – which appears to be a pickup truck. Police dashcam video shows Thao's cruiser spin off the road after slamming into the vehicle in Wake County.

Thao intentionally drove into the DUI suspect, knowing that the driver was speeding toward the interstate exit – where other cars could have been exiting.

Bibey, of Raleigh, was arrested and charged with driving while impaired.

We're taking you through this wild video put out today by @NCSHP tonight with the trooper whose action saved lives.\nCody Thao: "All the credit goes out to the other troopers who inspire me on a daily basis especially here in Wake County" #abc11 #ncshppic.twitter.com/PRwF9TwauE
— Josh Chapin (@Josh Chapin) 1651718702

"I could not be prouder of Trp. Thao and his quick decision to stop the wrong-way driver, his actions most undoubtedly saved lives," Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr. – commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol – said in a statement. "His willingness to put himself in harm’s way is representative of the lifesaving work our members do each day. Placing others before ourselves is not just a saying amongst the law enforcement profession, it's a reality of what we do for the betterment of the communities we serve."

Thao told WTVD, "Once I saw the vehicle, I just decided to stop the chase right there. This is what we signed up to do, this is what we agreed to do."

He added, “All the credit goes out to the other troopers who inspire me on a daily basis especially here in Wake County.”

Thao has only been with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for less than a year.

"Before that, I actually worked at a Tractor Supply," he said. "I don’t have any prior experience with law enforcement. I’ve always had a servant’s heart, and I’ve always wanted to help people."

There was a very similar incident in March, when a Florida state trooper put herself in harm's way by purposely navigating her police cruiser into an oncoming driver who was allegedly drunk.

School resource officer hailed as hero for quick response to shooting



A school resource officer in Olathe, Kansas, is being hailed as a hero for his quick action during a school shooting incident Friday.

Olathe East High School resource officer Erik Clark was injured while exchanging gunfire with the suspect, an 18-year-old male student, the Olathe Police Department said in a statement.

On March 4, at approximately 10:38 a.m., Clark was called to the school's main office to deal with "an administrative matter" involving the student. Police said that during the incident, the student produced a handgun and shots were exchanged between the resource officer and the suspect. Clark, assistant principal Kaleb Stoppel, and the suspect, identified as Jaylon Elmore, each sustained gunshot wounds.

Authorities said that all injured persons were transported to the local hospital to receive treatment. The school was evacuated and cleared, police said.

Elmore was taken into custody and charged with attempted capital murder. He was a senior at the school and a member of the varsity football team. According to WDAF-TV, Elmore completed six months of probation in Dec. 2020 for an aggravated robbery conviction.

Officials at Overland Park Regional Medical Center said in a written statement Friday afternoon that Clark and Stoppel had been discharged from the hospital, the Kansas City Star reports. The student remained there in critical condition.

Scanner traffic reviewed by the Kansas City Star showed Clark calling in the shooting on Friday morning.

"I've been shot," he reportedly told dispatchers, advising that two others, including the suspect, had been shot as well.

"I have applied a tourniquet on myself," he said.

Police departments across Johnson County responded to the school after Clark made the call. Many have praised Clark, a 15-year veteran of the Olathe Police Department and 7-year school resource officer, for his quick response to the shooting.

“In towns and cities across the country, School Resource Officers go to work each day in an effort to teach students, form positive relationships with them and keep school staff and students safe," Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves said in a statement.

"Today, not far away from our own community, a hero emerged in the performance of his duties. Despite being shot himself, Olathe Police Officer Clark was able to subdue a suspect who had also shot a school administrator. Due to Officer Clark’s heroic and life-saving actions, nobody else was injured during this dangerous event," he said.

“A tragedy was avoided today thanks to this guy,” the Kansas State Troopers Association said in a Facebook post. "A big hat tip to this badass!"

VIDEO: Florida man throws baby after high-speed police chase; hero deputy catches 2-month-old mid-air



A Florida man attempted to hamstring police who were in hot pursuit of him with an abominable tactic: he tossed his baby at officers. Thankfully, a hero deputy was able to catch the infant in mid-air, possibly saving the life of the 2-month-old infant.

The Indian River County Sheriff's Office said John Henry James, 32, was driving his white Nissan Rogue erratically in Vero Beach, Florida, on May 26. An officer attempted to pull James over, but he purposely ignored the police and continued to drive, according to the police report. The high-speed police pursuit continued for 40 minutes, which included roadblocks and police cruisers nudging the Rogue to stop the Florida man from fleeing. The police chase finally ended after authorities disabled the vehicle with a spike strip.

The debilitated SUV pulled into an apartment complex, where James ditched the handicapped vehicle. Police pursued the suspect on foot, and that's when James attempted to sidetrack law enforcement by hurling his 2-month-old son at police. Indian River County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jacob Kurby made a miraculous catch of the flying baby in mid-air. The baby was not harmed thanks to the hero deputy.

James continued to run away from the officers but was taken down in the parking lot of the apartment complex, where he reportedly continued to resist arrest.

The suspect was finally apprehended, then claimed he could not breathe because of his asthma. James was taken to a nearby Fire Station where EMTs could check him out, but he continued to resist and kicked an officer in the face. James was administered a sedative before being taken to the hospital for examination.

James is charged with several felonies, including two counts of aggravated child abuse, aggravated battery on an officer/firefighter/EMT, aggravated battery on a pregnant woman, felony flee and elude, resisting arrest with violence, as well as reckless driving, according to online jail records. He is currently being held without bond.

"It was kind of awkward. I couldn't chase him, I couldn't tackle him, not a whole lot I can do because he had the baby," Curby told WPEC-TV. "He just turned around, no regard, not a little toss or anything, he just turned around, overhand threw this 2-month-old at me from about 6 feet away."

"You can't throw a baby at us and expect us to treat you with kid gloves," Sheriff Eric Flowers said.

The Indian River County Sheriff's Office released video of the insane police pursuit and arrest, which includes police helicopter footage.

John Henry James Pursuit May 26 2021 www.youtube.com