Prince Harry has openly criticized the NYPD over their handling of a high-speed chase incident involving paparazzi last year.
Harry's frustration stems from the NYPD's delayed action against photographers who pursued him aggressively through Manhattan in May 2023, Daily Mail reported.
After leaving a notable public event, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, found themselves pursued by photographers, leading to what has been characterized as a dangerous high-speed chase. The incident was captured by the media and publicly discussed, particularly because of the hazardous driving behaviors exhibited by the paparazzi.
Following the incident, Prince Harry, through his security company TorchStone, conveyed his grievances to the NYPD. They expressed a belief that the NYPD was dragging its feet over the investigation. Concerns escalated to the point where Prince Harry contemplated contacting major legal figures for intervention.
TorchStone sent a significant communication to the NYPD stating, "The duke feels intentionally misled and is suspicious of a cover-up." This highlighted a serious accusation against the police department’s integrity in managing the case.
Despite the allegations, an initial NYPD letter dated September 18, 2023, concluded that the photographic evidence then available was insufficient to justify arrests. However, a subsequent letter from December 6 reevaluated the situation, affirming sufficient evidence to arrest two photographers for reckless endangerment.
The revised stance by the NYPD has yet to result in any arrests, with officials remaining silent about the reasons for this lack of action. Meanwhile, Harry’s frustrations have led him to issue a stern ultimatum about pursuing formal complaints if the arrests were not made promptly, particularly threatening to reach out to the Manhattan District Attorney's office.
A representative from TorchStone underscored this urgency in a communication with Chief Hart of the NYPD: ‘Chief Hart, I am writing on behalf of the Duke of Sussex as he has asked that certain things be taken care of by this Friday as it relates to the incident last May in NYC, before he moves forward with an official complaint to the Manhattan District Attorney's office.’
The response from NYPD officials was concise, with Hart stating, "Okay - based on this we will refer all case updates or lack thereof only through counsel."
This case has also intertwined with broader security discussions, as Sir Peter Lane mentioned the NYPD's communications during a UK court hearing concerning Prince Harry’s security arrangements. The outcome was not in Harry’s favor, which possibly compounded his difficulties in navigating safety issues on both sides of the Atlantic.
On-the-record statements from NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner for Public Information, Julian Phillips, downplayed the immediacy and danger of the situation. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests in regard," he commented, suggesting a less dire view of the incident.
Prince Harry himself has emphasized the personal stakes involved, pointing to his family's safety as a paramount concern. He expressed, "I can't put my wife in danger like that, and given my experiences in life, I'm reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm's way too."
Ultimately, the high-speed chase in New York exposed the ongoing challenges faced by Harry and Meghan in maintaining their privacy and underscored the complexities of their interactions with law enforcement agencies. Despite the revised evidence warranting arrests, the NYPD's actions—or lack thereof—continue to be a point of contention and public interest.
