Detroit Police Sued For Couple's Death
Witnesses Say Police Car Didn't Have Lights, Siren
POSTED: Friday, March 28, 2003
UPDATED: 2:51 pm EST March 28,
2003
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -- A multimillion-dollar lawsuit has reportedly been filed against the Detroit Police Department following a deadly accident involving a squad car.
Albert Sloan, 84, and Lillie Sloan, 83, (pictured, left) of Detroit, were killed March 13 when a police cruiser ran a red light and hit their car, Local 4 reported. Witnesses said the police car did not have its lights and sirens on when the accident occurred.
The Sloans were about 1 mile away from their home when their red Honda was hit broadside by the police cruiser, Local 4 reported. The Honda was going south on St. Aubin, while the squad car was going eastbound on Lafayette, according to the station's reports.
The family's attorney, Ven Johnson, said police are only able to break traffic laws -- such as running a red light -- when their lights and sirens are on.
"They did not have lights and sirens on. It was not an emergency situation," Johnson said. "And they just ran a red light and they killed two innocent people."
The family's attorneys -- the Southfield firm of Fieger, Fieger, Kenney and Johnson -- want to view onboard videotape from the squad car that is reportedly being examined to determine if the lights and sirens were turned on.
Police say that officers were not involved in a chase, but were answering a call.
The officers are a man and woman from the 7th Precinct who suffered only minor injuries. They have been assigned to desk duty while the accident is investigated by police.
Detroit police said they cannot comment on the lawsuit.
Over the past 1½ years, Detroit has spent over $1 million paying families of victims killed or injured because police failed to use sirens, Local 4 reported.
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