Here is the shortest version of the "near catastrophic car chase" incident I can pull together.
On 16th May 2023, Harry, Meghan and Doria attended the Ms. Foundation for Women award ceremony in New York. They were followed by paparazzi when they left the venue.
Harry & Meghan’s official statement said:
“Last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi. This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers......"
Omid Scobie put out a statement that said the photographers were confronted by uniformed officers “multiple times” and "still carried out a number of traffic violations such as driving on the sidewalk, running red lights, and reversing down a one-way street."
A member of Harry & Meghan’s security team gave an account to CNN. Chris Sanchez identified himself and said: “I have never seen, experienced anything like this. What we were dealing with was very chaotic. There were about a dozen vehicles: cars, scooters and bicycles....."
On 17th May 2023, the NYPD issued the following response:
“There were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests in regard.”
Eric Adams, New York’s mayor, said: "I would find it hard to believe there was a two-hour high speed chase.”
Three separate law enforcement officials told US network NBC News that they would not describe it as a chase.
A taxi driver who picked the Duke and Duchess of Sussex up during the incident suggested it had “not been a chase” and that no one was in danger in his opinion.
28th February 2024: A letter from the Chief of Intelligence in the New York City Police Department was included in paragraph 135 of today's judgment:
.....a thorough review of the incident had taken place and although no formal charges were brought against the parties involved at the time, we did conclude that the behaviour in question was reckless.
The investigation had found reckless disregard of vehicle and traffic laws and persistently dangerous and unacceptable behaviour on the part of paparazzi during the night in question. They had operated vehicles, scooters and bicycles in a manner that forced the security team, which included the NYPD lead car, to take evasive actions on several occasions and a circuitous route to avoid being struck by pursuing vehicles or trapped on side blocks. The conclusion was that there was sufficient evidence to arrest two individuals for reckless endangerment.
After the new information in today's judgment, we know the NYPD have had the evidence to make two arrests since at least 6th December 2023 (the date of the letter), but have so far not done so.
Newspaper articles at the time (May 2023) reported the Sussexes and OS's statements, plus those of the NYPD, mayor and the taxi driver. The general consensus in the press/on social media since then has been that the Sussexes exaggerated the severity of the incident. I don't think the letter included in the judgment today will substantially change this public perception ("near catastrophic" vs "reckless".)
Also from the letter we now know that the NYPD have made "....certain changes to the security posture....". This has been incorrectly reported by some media outlets as the NYPD 'upgrading its security protocol' (with regard to the Sussexes).
Personally, I think the actual wording means a change in how the NYPD will engage with the press/paps on future visits, perhaps by stepping in sooner to make arrests (when there is evidence of law breaking) rather than waiting to seeing how a situation will play out.