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Former DPD officer-in-training charged with reckless driving in fatal pedestrian crash

Police say the 19-year-old waited at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement.

Keyshawn Elijah James Rucker, 19, was charged on July 7 with one count of reckless driving causing death in connection to a fatal pedestrian accident in February. (Courtesy Detroit Police Department)

DETROIT – A former probationary officer with the Detroit Police Department was arraigned on Tuesday in connection to a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred on the city’s west side in February.

Keyshawn Elijah James Rucker, 19, was charged with one count of reckless driving causing death — punishable by up to 15 years in prison if convicted — for fatally striking a 33-year-old man with his vehicle.

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Police say the accident happened around 5:40 a.m. Feb. 28 on Grand River Avenue near St. Mary’s Street. Rucker waited at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement.

Rucker, who has no prior convictions, was a newly graduated police cadet at the time of the crash. He has since been named a probationary police officer with DPD, but resigned from the department on April 6, court records show.

A $50,000 personal bond was issued for his release, and he will be due back in court for a probable cause conference at 8:30 a.m. July 15.