Innocent driver killed in crash involving parole violator, Detroit police chief says

Chief looking into why suspect was not in custody

DETROIT – Detroit Police Chief James Craig said he's working to find out why a parole violator who was wearing a tether wasn't arrested before he caused a crash Thursday afternoon that killed an innocent driver.

Craig said an officer tried to stop the suspect, who was driving a Dodge Charger, but the suspect sped off. Craig said the chase was called off before the suspect crashed on the city's west side.

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"The vehicle fled, lost sight of the officers and struck a vehicle that was not involved at all. The unfortunate part is that the person driving that vehicle, here at Greenfield and Elmira, an innocent person in a vehicle, is a fatality," Craig said.

The victim's name hasn't been released.

Craig said the suspect and another person in the Charger are being treated at a hospital for injuries. It was at the hospital that it was discovered the suspect was wearing a tether.

Craig said an arrest warrant for the suspect was issued in July for a weapons parole violation.

"Why was this person still out? And why didn't we arrest that person when notified that there was an active warrant in the system?" Craig said.