Police Chase Ends in Suicide
Update 11/14/2011 @ 2:30 pm: Grand Prairie police identified the victim as Kenneth L. Irvin, 50.
The driver of a 2005 Ford SUV, who lead Grand Prairie police on a ten minute pursuit from the northwest sector of the city, killed himself after stopping in the 3200 block of Corn Valley at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
Detective John Brimmer, police spokesman, said the incident began when a patrol officer stopped the Ford SUV near NW Dallas and NW 24 after the officer observed the driver talking with a known prostitute. While making a routine record check of the driver, the officer observed him making unusual movements inside the vehicle.
As the officer approached the driver to question him about any weapons in the vehicle, the driver fled from the officer.
Utilizing his emergency lights and siren, the officer chased the vehicle until the suspect stopped in a vacant lot.
As officers got out of their cars to approach the suspect they saw the driver slump over the SUV’s steering wheel. When the officers got to the vehicle, they found the driver with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
A 380 caliber semi-automatic pistol was found in his vehicle, by the body.
Grand Prairie Fire/Rescue personnel transported the driver to Methodist Hospital in Dallas where he was pronounced dead.
The man’s name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, Detective Brimmer said. The investigation is still ongoing to attempt to determine why the man committed suicide, he added.
