Lieutenant Ordered To Wear Tether In Fatal Crash Case
Officer Suspended Without Pay
POSTED: Friday, July 2, 2004
UPDATED: 8:27 pm EDT August 10,2004
A video arraignment was held at 36th District Court in Detroit Friday for a police lieutenant accused of drunken driving in a fatal crash.
James Agee, 56, was charged with second-degree murder and operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death.
Agee (pictured, left) was ordered to wear an alcohol tether, which not only requires the defendant to remain under house arrest, but also requires him to periodically blow into a machine that will measure his alcohol level, according to reports.
"It is always unfortunate when we have to charge someone sworn to uphold the law. These are tough decisions but no one is above the law," said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
The crash reportedly occurred while Agee was off duty on June 19 at 3:15 a.m. at East Warren and Burns in Detroit.
Agee, an 18-year veteran who works out of the 13th Precinct, was reportedly driving the wrong way on a one-way street around when his SUV collided head-on with a vehicle driven by 20-year-old Nehemiah Thompson. Thompson (pictured, right) died from his injuries.

Agee has been suspended without pay from the police department.
The judge set his bond at $100,000.
Agee is expected to appear for a preliminary exam on Aug. 26 at the 36th District Court.
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