Kathy Ballard, 49, of Kennedy Heights, was struck by a car Stephen Justice was using to run from police. Had Justice not fled, the car he was driving would not have crashed into the car driven by Ballard, and she would have still been alive.

Justice, who was not injured, might be held accountable for her death Wednesday, but the incident also raises questions about when police should chase suspects. The crash happened in Norwood, but officers from that city, Cincinnati, Elmwood Place and St. Bernard were giving chase. Cincinnati Police Chief Thomas Streicher blamed Ballard's death where it belongs - on the suspect whom police say has a history of violent robberies in Ohio and elsewhere.

"It's not the fact that police were pursuing someone that led to this tragedy, but the decision by the suspect to elude police," Streicher told the Enquirer last week. "He is wanted in South Carolina and Florida, and he has a reputation as a pretty violent person."

Police found several purses in Justice's truck, and believe he was involved in at least three purse-snatchings, including one caught on tape eariler in the week in which an elderly woman was knocked to the ground and nearly run over.

The departments are reviewing the chase to determine whether procedures were followed, and such analysis is always helpful, especially when a death occurs after a chase. We look forward to the public release of the analysis.

The fact that a death did occur leaves difficult questions. Was it right to chase Justice? At what point could the chase have been called off? Could other techniques have been used, such setting up roadblocks or issuing version of the "Amber alert" system that combines radio and highway signs to communicate with the public.

Police were probably justified in chasing Justice, who clearly posed a danger to the public. But sadly, in the process, an innocent life was taken.