Parents of Arizona man killed in car chase sue state troopers, Gilbert

PHOENIX — The parents of a man who died after a high-speed chase in January are suing the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the town of Gilbert.

Bradley Burton Moore died Jan. 24 after a long chase on Interstate 17 that ended near Camp Verde, almost 100 miles north of the Valley.

His family wants $4 million from DPS, and $300,000 from Gilbert, a suburb of Phoenix.

The state highway patrol said Moore was driving a truck stolen from a Gilbert construction site.

The construction company confirmed the truck had been stolen, but declined details.

DPS Deputy Director Lt. Col. Heston Silbert led a pursuit consisting of Gilbert police officers and himself – although he was off-duty and in his personal vehicle at the time. He was recently cleared of wrongdoing in connection with the chase.

The officers and Moore eventually wound up near Camp Verde. Moore, 29, went over a guardrail on I-17 and plunged 400 feet down an embankment. He was killed almost instantly.

It’s still unclear how Moore, who lived in Yuma, obtained possession of the truck or what led to the pursuit.

In their notice of claim to DPS and the city of Gilbert, the Moores said Silbert had no business leading the chase if he was off-duty.

The filing also said, “Silbert led DPS and Gilbert officers in a pursuit of Moore at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour on Valley freeways. Even after the Phoenix Police Department’s helicopter (Firebird) gave a directive that Silbert terminate the pursuit, he refused to do so.”

In a brief email, a DPS spokesman said the agency was aware of the suit but would not comment on pending litigation.

Lawyers for Moore’s parents said he was an Army veteran who had served in Afghanistan. His obituary said he was survived by his parents, two sisters, a girlfriend and a large extended family.

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