More On Driver Who Chased Hit-And-Run Suspect

The tow truck driver who witnessed a driver hit a pedestrian and then drive away on Monday night continued to tell his story about embarking on a high-speed chase to nab the suspect. According to the Daily News, Peter Dinome pursued the driver "for nearly 8 miles through the Bronx, desperately weaving in and out of traffic as he tried to catch the suspect." Dinome admitted, "At times I was going 120, 130, I was moving," and also told the News that suspect Michael "Fennell drove the wrong direction down several one-way streets while trying to lose him." Dinome said of his actions, "I couldn't let someone die right before my eyes and let him get away. I'm not a hero - I just did a thing that I thought was right," and claims a cop offered to pay for his upcoming speeding ticket (since he was caught on a red-light camera), "All the cops were patting me on the back." Fennell was charged with leaving the scene of an accident; the victim, Braulio Lopez-Cruz, is in serious but stable condition at Jacobi Hospital.

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By Jen Chung in News on September 3, 2009 8:20 AM

Comments [rss]

Spirit of 76

Seems like this guy watched The French Connection or maybe Bullitt one too many times.

maxli

That's stupid, just get the license plate, that's all that was needed. More people could have been hurt.

NannyState

True but there's something very immediate and jarring about getting caught like that. I bet that stupid hit and run prick never does that again.

Potty Boy

I agree with some of the comments. Tow truck driver's intentions were good, but could easily have killed someone. He probably should have just let it go. If he saw the plate, great, if not, let it go. That's why cops call off chases b/c the risk of injuring or killing an innocent bystander (besides the initial victim) is not worth the gain of catching the suspect, this one particular time.

al_fredo

Every time this guy speaks, his MPH keeps going up. Tomorrow, he'll be doing 160 down Freemans Alley. I really want to know make and model of the two cars in the chase!

Regardless, was it worth the risk? Probably not...but NYPD is not CSI. So, it's likely that the hit and run driver would have escaped. Maybe matching up any red-light cams after the time of the accident (even without the chase). Kudos for the balls on this guy. Peter probably thought he just saw a murder, so he just went with it. Sign him to the force?

ed_Extinct

This is Adam Sandlder's stunt double.

pigeon

Yeah I think we can all agree that what he did was dangerous, but I'm so sick of reading about drivers who flee accident scenes that I can't help but feel good about what he did. I hope the city dismisses his tickets.

Nyctini11

Exactly how i feel too.

Wza

Me too!

seven

Eh, I'm conflicted. It seems like the police NEVER catch hit and run drivers (or at least you never hear follow ups about an arrest), but still, 100 mph, weaving in and out of traffic? Without sirens to warn people. This dude was pretty reckless, even if he did catch the hit and run driver. He could have easily killed a ped. or caused an accident during his chase.

djwerdna

He's lucky he didn't hit anyone.

Aren't cops discouraged from high speed chases because of the risk to other people on the road?

Rocknrope

If this civilian high speed chase resulted in another crash or pedestrian fatality, there would be a lot less back patting and a lot more grandstanding about how "civilians need to leave the law enforcement up to the police."

hotstepper

ooo ooo i LOVE this game!

ok, IF i were born with any superpower i would have...

Koopa

Yeah, this guy obviously had good intentions and was able to catch the perpetrator but he could have easily killed somebody (or the guy he was chasing could have hit and killed someone else).

Cautious Pessimist

All the cops were patting me on the back.

Did anyone else just picture that episode of the Simpsons where Marge runs down the guy that mugged her and Chief Wiggum says "Looks like she caught her own criminal, unlike the rest of you lazy bones!"

jibbly

Bake him away, toys.

Mordicai

Nice work, Pete.

billybob

I'm sure Bloomberg will figure out a way to squeeze money out of this guy too, additional tickets, etc

nicemarmot

Er...I kinda doubt that 130mph buddy. Personally I would have just written down the plate number.

moorecor

120? 130? really? what the hell was this guy driving?

Brooklyn

You're obviously thinking of the broken-down jalopies that the NYPD drives. Have you ever seen some of the NASCAR-style pickups that the private operators drive? If you've ever broken down and called AAA, one of these clowns will always show up first.