Hollywood Police Department SOP #232 Hit & Run Crash Investigations PDF

HOLLYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT SOP #232 HIT & RUN CRASH INVESTIGATIONS ORIGINATION DATE: 05/11/2001 REVIEW DATE: 05/01/2017...

HOLLYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT SOP #232 HIT & RUN CRASH INVESTIGATIONS ORIGINATION DATE: 05/11/2001 REVIEW DATE: 05/01/2017 APPROVED: CHIEF OF POLICE, JEFF DEVLIN PURPOSE: To establish guidelines and procedures for the investigation of Hit and Run Vehicle crashes. SCOPE: This SOP applies to all Members of the Department. POLICY: It is the policy of the Department to investigate all traffic crashes occurring within the jurisdiction of the City. Hit and Run investigations will be reported in accordance with the SOP #231 Traffic Crash Investigations. INDEX: I. LEAVING THE SCENE OF A CRASH (HIT & RUN)............................................................................. 2 A. FIRST RESPONDING MEMBER:............................................................................................................... 2 B. SUSPECT INFORMATION:....................................................................................................................... 2 C. HIT AND RUN WITH SERIOUS INJURIES:.................................................................................................. 2 D. HIT AND RUN CRITERIA:........................................................................................................................ 2 II. CRASH SCENE INVESTIGATIONS...................................................................................................... 3 A. TRACE EVIDENCE:................................................................................................................................ 3 B. PEDESTRIAN VICTIMS:........................................................................................................................... 3 C. SECURING EVIDENCE:........................................................................................................................... 3 III. WITNESSES/VICTIMS........................................................................................................................... 3 A. INTERVIEWING W ITNESSES:................................................................................................................... 3 B. RECORDING CONTACT INFORMATION:.................................................................................................... 3 IV. PROPERTY DAMAGE........................................................................................................................... 3 A. DAMAGE TO CITY PROPERTY:............................................................................................................... 3 B. POWER / TELEPHONE POLES:................................................................................................................ 3 V. LOCATING THE SUSPECT/VEHICLE.................................................................................................. 4 A. SUSPECT CONTACT:............................................................................................................................. 4 B. VEHICLE LOCATED:............................................................................................................................... 4 VI. CRASH REPORTS................................................................................................................................. 4 A. REPORT FORMS:.................................................................................................................................. 4 SOP #232 Hit & Run Crash Investigations Page 1 of 6  B. REPORT ROUTING:............................................................................................................................... 4 VII. FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION............................................................................................................. 4 A. REVIEW:............................................................................................................................................... 4 B. CASE ASSIGNMENT:.............................................................................................................................. 5 C. SUSPECT CONTACT WITHIN CITY OF HOLLYWOOD:................................................................................. 5 D. SUSPECT CONTACT OUTSIDE CITY OF HOLLYWOOD:.............................................................................. 5 E. VICTIM CONTACT:................................................................................................................................. 5 F. SUPPLEMENTAL ACCIDENT REPORTS:................................................................................................... 5 G. FELONY HIT & RUN INVESTIGATIONS (INJURIES):.................................................................................... 5 VIII. CASE STATUS...................................................................................................................................... 5 A. ARREST............................................................................................................................................... 5 B. CLEARED:............................................................................................................................................ 5 C. INACTIVE:............................................................................................................................................. 5 IX. RECORD KEEPING............................................................................................................................... 6 PROCEDURE: I. LEAVING THE SCENE OF A CRASH (HIT & RUN) A hit and run crash occurs when the driver of any vehicle is involved in a crash with injuries or property damage and leaves the scene of the crash without reporting it in accordance with Florida Statutes. A. First Responding Member: The first responding Member will administer first aid, if needed, until the arrival of Hollywood Fire Rescue. The Member will also attempt to ascertain the following information from witnesses and/or victims: 1. Year, make, model, color, and tag number of the suspect vehicle. 2. Area and amount of damage to the suspect vehicle. 3. Description and number of occupants. 4. Time delay and direction the suspect vehicle fled from the scene. 5. The information will then be BOLO’d to HPD Members and neighboring jurisdictions. B. Suspect Information: Information pertaining to the suspect vehicle / driver will be placed in the narrative portion of the Crash Report. C. Hit and Run with Serious Injuries: The Patrol Supervisor will advise the on-duty Traffic Homicide Investigator of the incident. A Traffic Homicide Unit call-out will be conducted, if required. D. Hit and Run Criteria: Hit and Run’s will be submitted as incomplete to the Hit and Run unit, using Hit and Run as the reason, if ALL of the following criteria are met. 1. The amount of property damage exceeds $500 2. If a full tag with state was obtained. SOP #232 Hit & Run Crash Investigations Page 2 of 6  3. Description of the suspect vehicle, which will include a make and/or model of suspect vehicle. 4. Description of the suspect driver, i.e. race, sex, age, and physical characteristics 5. A positive identification of suspect driver will be possible by any party involved in the crash. Any injuries to any party involved in the crash will automatically be sent as incomplete to the traffic unit for a hit and run investigator to determine if a follow up will be completed. If the criteria are not met for a follow up investigation regarding the hit and run, the reporting Member will mark the report as complete and submit the hit and run to the HWTC Folder in OSSI. The member will complete the hit and run in accordance with section VI- Crash Reports. II. CRASH SCENE INVESTIGATIONS The Crime Scene Investigations Unit or a Community Service Officer will respond to the scene of hit and run crashes to photograph property damage and/or collect evidence when necessary. The Crime Scene Investigations Unit will respond to hit and run crashes involving serious bodily injury or extensive property damage. A. Trace Evidence: A Crime Scene Technician or a Community Service Officer will respond to process and collect evidence, which could link the suspect vehicle to the accident scene. B. Pedestrian Victims: If a hit and run crash involves a pedestrian who was admitted to the hospital with serious injuries, a Crime Scene Technician will photograph the victim and collect the victim’s clothing as evidence. C. Securing Evidence: All evidence will be processed by a Crime Scene Technician or a Community Service Officer who will be responsible for submitting the evidence into the Property and Evidence Unit. III. WITNESSES/VICTIMS A. Interviewing Witnesses: Members will attempt to locate and interview witnesses to ascertain if they can provide information relevant to the incident, such as the description or identity of the suspect or vehicle. B. Recording Contact Information: The Member will obtain the following information from witnesses and victims: 1. Name and address (including zip code). 2. Home, business, e- mail address and cellular telephone numbers. 3. If a witness or victim has an unlisted home phone number and does not want it listed in the Crash Report, the Member may list a business number or forward the home number to the Traffic Investigator. IV. PROPERTY DAMAGE A. Damage to City Property: If an accident involves damage to City property, the Member will have the Crime Scene Investigations Unit or a Community Service Officer respond to photograph the damage. The Member’s Supervisor will report the damage to the appropriate City Department via email or phone. The City’s Human Resource Department will obtain a copy of all reports via the Police Department’s Record Division. B. Power / Telephone Poles: If a crash involves damage to FPL power lines or AT&T telephone lines, the Member will remain on-scene for repair crews to arrive. SOP #232 Hit & Run Crash Investigations Page 3 of 6 V. LOCATING THE SUSPECT/VEHICLE A. Suspect Contact: When an Officer encounters the driver involved in a hit and run crash, the Officer will: 1. Advise the driver of his Miranda Rights from a prepared text prior to questioning. 2. Request a Crime Scene Technician to photograph any damage associated with the crash. 3. Have any witness(s) respond to where the suspect driver / vehicle are located to make a positive identification if the suspect driver and/or vehicle are found within a reasonable time of the crash. 4. Secure a written statement from the witnesses placing the suspect driver behind the wheel of the vehicle. 5. Issue the appropriate Traffic Citations and/or make a physical arrest. B. Vehicle Located: If the vehicle involved in a hit and run crash is located, the investigating Member will: 1. Have the vehicle photographed by a Crime Scene Technician. 2. Seize the vehicle, if required for investigative purposes. Supervisory approval will be required prior to a suspect vehicle being towed / impounded. 3. If a vehicle is seized for investigative purposes, the Member will: a. Have the vehicle towed to a secured compound. b. Notify the owner, if possible. c. Place a “HOLD” on the vehicle. (The reason for the “HOLD” will be “Hit and Run Investigation”). d. Contact teletype and have vehicle entered into NCIC/FCIC as “towed/abandoned”. e. Release the vehicle to the owner when the vehicle is no longer needed for investigation or prosecution. VI. CRASH REPORTS Refer to the SOP #231 Traffic Crash Investigations for reporting guidelines. A. Report Forms: Investigators will complete the following forms: 1. Crash Report (HSMV 90010S): Leave Section 1 blank. 2. Crash Report (HSMV 90010S): Place all information pertaining to the suspect vehicle / driver (if obtained) in the narrative section. B. Report Routing: All Hit & Run Crash Reports will be forwarded to the Traffic Unit for investigation. VII. FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION A. Review: A Traffic Unit Investigator will review Hit and Run Crash Reports to determine if follow-up investigation is warranted. The depth of the investigation will be based on the severity of the crash and solvability factors. The following criteria will be used as a guide: 1. Is the suspect driver known? 2. Is the suspect vehicle known? SOP #232 Hit & Run Crash Investigations Page 4 of 6  3. Is there any information or evidence that can lead to the identity of the suspect driver or suspect vehicle? 4. Can the suspect driver be identified by victim and/or witnesses? B. Case Assignment: An Officer or Community Service Officer assigned to the Traffic Unit will conduct all follow-up investigations. C. Suspect Contact within City of Hollywood: If the suspect in a hit & run crash lives within the City of Hollywood, the Traffic Unit Investigator will attempt to make a person to person contact. If a Traffic Unit CSO does not feel comfortable making contact alone, they will request the assistance of a sworn Officer prior to making contact with the suspect. D. Suspect Contact outside City of Hollywood: If the suspect in a hit & run crash lives outside the City of Hollywood, the Traffic Unit Investigator will mail a letter on official Department stationary requesting the desired information. Telephone or physical contact may be required if the requested information is not received. E. Victim Contact: A Traffic Unit Investigator will contact all hit and run crash victims by phone or letter to inform them of the investigation’s status. F. Supplemental Accident Reports: A Traffic Unit Investigator will close out all investigations by completing a Traffic Crash Update Report (HSMV 90010S) for all investigated hit and run crashes. G. Felony Hit & Run Investigations (Injuries): When investigating felony hit and run crashes, the following guidelines will be followed: 1. All hit and run crashes involving injuries will be investigated in accordance with established Department SOP’s. 2. All evidence located at the scene or elsewhere will be collected and entered into the Property Division. The suspect vehicle, if located, will not be impounded until a warrant is obtained, when possible. If preservation of evidence is a concern, the vehicle will be impounded to a secure location, but not entered and/or processed until a warrant is obtained. Any processing of the vehicle to collect evidence, i.e. hair, blood, fibers, etc., should only be conducted after obtaining a warrant, when feasible. Circumstances may arise where the destruction of evidence is a concern, i.e. movement, weather, degradable, etc. and may need to be collected immediately. Officers will clearly explain exigent circumstances requiring immediate processing in their report. VIII. CASE STATUS When a hit and run investigation is closed, a case status will be assigned by the Investigator and approved by a Traffic Unit Supervisor. Case status includes: A. Arrest Citations issued / physical arrest made, investigation is closed. B. Cleared: Information such as insurance received on suspect vehicle will be forward to the victim. Where there are no citations issued, the investigation is considered closed. C. Inactive: Investigation closed pending the development of further information. SOP #232 Hit & Run Crash Investigations Page 5 of 6 IX. RECORD KEEPING Original Crash Reports will be maintained in the Records Section. A log of hit and run follow ups will be kept on the “S Drive” in the “Traffic Homicide” folder. SOP #232 Hit & Run Crash Investigations Page 6 of 6