In what circumstances will a police officer stop a car thief from running a red light and striking another vehicle?

In People v. Fuller (1978) 86 Cal.App.3d 618, a police officer spotted the defendants as they were in the act of stealing tires from a car lot. The defendants got into their car and attempted to make a getaway. (Id. at pp. 621-622.) "[A] high speed chase ensued which eventually resulted in [the defendants'] car running a red light . . . and striking another automobile which had entered the intersection. The driver of the other automobile was killed. . . . The chase from the car lot covered some seven miles and lasted approximately 10 to 12 minutes. During the chase the [defendants'] car narrowly missed colliding with several other cars including two police vehicles that were positioned to block their escape." (Id. at p. 622.)

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