Brother wants answers after wife killed in Broward police chase

POMPANO BEACH, Fla — The brother of a woman killed when police tried to stop a group of armed carjacking suspects questions why it took authorities so long to stop the suspects.

The chase began Friday in Hallandale Beach and ended around 11 p.m. after the suspects collided with a car driven by 68-year-old Patricia Schmelz in Pompano Beach.

Officials said as Hallandale Beach police pursued him, the 17-year-old driver ran a red light as he exited Interstate 95 onto West Copans Road, hitting and killing Schmelz, who was on his way to work .

“(It’s) a complete shock,” said the victim’s brother, Glenn Schmeltz. “I mean, it’s just that it still hasn’t settled in. It’s like a numb feeling.”

The 17-year-old, who was not identified, was one of six people in the Dodge Charger.

“This should never have happened to her,” Glenn Schmeltz said. “She had no idea this was happening.”

Among those arrested was an adult, 20-year-old Cody Clark.

Authorities said it appears the carjacking victim was intended to commit carjacking and robbing. The group forced him to take off his clothes, beat him and took the car, police said.

Schmeltz, speaking to Local 10 News of New Jersey, said he has a lot of questions.

“She’s my sister. I have a brother, a sister. My brother passed away. Now my sister passed away. I’m the only one left,” Glenn Schmeltz said. “These guys were out for robbery. They were kidnapping the car and the police chased him for half an hour. You know, there’s always going to be a crash – and that happened to be my sister.”

As for the driver, Glenn Schmeltz said, “This guy will probably stay with me for the rest of my life.”

“I love (my sister) and I miss her,” he said. “I mean, it’s going to be hard. We were preparing to go on vacation in September.”

Police said they recovered five guns from the car. All suspects face serious charges.