Dutch Use F-16s to Pursue Criminal Suspect
The Dutch air force reportedly used two F-16s to pursue a criminal suspect in a stolen car. Spokesperson Olav Spanjer reported that the jets were about to leave the Volkel airbase on a training mission on Thursday when they heard that the local police were in pursuit of a criminal.
They decided to drop the training mission and follow the stolen car. Apparently police officers had pulled the car over and the criminal had responded with gunfire. They called the military base in request for a jeep, but the pilots felt they could do a better job from the air. Not the case– the car eventually crashed and the man ran away on foot.
Dutch Use F-16s to Pursue Criminal Suspect
I’ve written about plenty of stupid criminal stories, but rarely is there a stupid “good-guys” story. It sounds like these guys had seen a lot of action movies and were inspired to have an adrenaline pumping car chase kind of moment.
Of course chasing a car in F-16s isn’t going to be effective. How are you supposed to get the car to pull over? Were they planning on shooting at it? Having a Top Gun kind of moment with “Highway to the Danger Zone” bumping in the background?
The story reminds me a lot of the film Hot Fuzz, where small town cops are inspired by American buddy cop films. Hollywood has a way of affecting what we think is possible, even though it might be absolutely ridiculous.
If you’re looking for more entertaining criminal stories, the article I wrote about Stupid Criminals 2011 might interest you. Some examples of ridiculous crooks:
Jason Leon Bastrom + Criminal Trespass
It was in Portland, Oregon that Bastrom entered a house because the doormat said “welcome”. Of course he meant to pull a bit of a robbery but ended up getting his lights knocked out by the people at home (jason bastrom + punched out).
Judy Weible Called Police
In Jackson, Mississippi this 61-year old woman was attempting to set up a drug deal and ended up texting and calling the police about the details. Uh, duh! Needless to say she got busted (Judy Weible + Hydrocodone Tablets).
Heroin For Sale Sign
Once again Portland seems to be the town full of terrible criminals. A flier advertising heroin for sale was circulating a neighborhood when somebody reported it to the cops. What did they find? Portland + meth lab, 19 grams of marijuana, 10 grams of heroin, 190 pills and $4,143 in cash + shotgun. Silly criminals!
Douglas Martin Kidnapping Post Leads to Drug Bust
Twas a strange day for Riverside, Illinois cops who responded to a suspicious looking Facebook post about a creative writing project regarding Douglas J. Martin holding ex-girlfriend prisoner. They showed up and found Douglas J. Martin + marijuana, heroin and drug paraphernalia. Fun!
Dutch Use F-16s to Pursue Criminal Suspect
Yes, there are plenty of dumb criminals out there. But the Dutch air force thinking they might be able to catch a crook with F-16s is pretty silly too. Dutch Use F-16s to Pursue Criminal Suspect
Clearly the pilots wanted to play with their new toys. I would say this a bit of over kill. But playing with F-16 fights is no joke so close to citizens and they have had to be flying low to see the car (?). Who gave these two pilots permission to get involved in a criminal chase. If that is the case then Holland is a police state, which I know better, because I was there when I was in university ! Expensive equipment to use to chase a car LMAF.
Kate