I'm surprised at how many people aren't placing at least some blame on the kid here. We need to start taking responsibility for our actions and the consequences that come with those actions. This kid decided he so badly wanted a pack of smokes that he was going to steal his dad's truck, run from the cops, ram cars, and put who knows how many lives at risk. All for a pack of smokes. I wonder how this story would have changed had he plowed into a few children on the way. I'm sure the cops would have been vilified for not stopping him sooner. Point being, you break the law, do stupid s**t, put other people's lives at risk, you potentially put yours at risk as well.
Also, having friends who are cops and having been on more than a few ride alongs, I can tell you that just because a person is stopped and appears surrounded by no means indicates that they are immobile and safe. Cops have been ran over and drug for hundreds of yards by some jackwad who decided to drive away at the very last second while cops were moving in on his vehicle. Even ones that seemed like they weren't going anywhere because they ran into a tree or another car. It's not always as black and white as "just walk up and break the glass and pull him out." It doesn't always go that smoothly.