A man has been charged in connection with a high-speed chase and fatal crash in Warren, as Warren police disclosed yesterday. Damaree Darvell Terry, a 26-year-old resident of Pontiac, faces charges including second-degree murder after a police chase ended in catastrophe, as reported by The Detroit News. The pursuit, which began on Eight Mile Road, involved three Dodge Chargers and culminated in a devastating collision at the intersection of 10 Mile and Dequindre roads, where Katrina Michael, a 42-year-old mother of two, was killed.
Terry was apprehended at his place of work in Auburn Hills earlier this week, and during the arrest, admitted his involvement in the perilous chase, according to a press release from Warren police. He informed investigators about the whereabouts of his vehicle. Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido, as quoted by WWJ Newsradio, characterized the chase as leading to "the tragic death of an innocent person," underscoring the severe outcomes of such "dangerous behavior."
During an initial court appearance, Terry pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including second-degree homicide and fleeing and eluding police. Judge Michael Chupa of the 37th District Court in Warren set Terry's bond at $1 million cash or surety only, enforcing a steel cuff tether as a condition of release, as pointed out by hoodline. Terry's next court date is slated for a preliminary exam on June 23.
Police Commissioner Charles Rushton defended the pursuit, citing light traffic and suspicions of drag racing as factors in the decision to chase. "The way these people were driving, their vehicle was a weapon," Rushton explained, referring to a dashcam footage that showed the chase, as reported by WWJ Newsradio. In the meantime, a community has rallied to support the bereaved family, raising funds through an online GoFundMe campaign, which has exceeded its $30,000 target to cover memorial service costs and other expenses linked to the tragic loss of Michael.
James Lamar Hudson Jr., the other identified Charger driver, was earlier charged with similar counts related to the incident. Both Hudson and Terry remain detained under a $1 million cash/surety bond, and will be back in court for a Probable Cause Hearing on July 16 to be followed by a Preliminary Exam a week later. As the investigation persists, Warren police continue their search for a third Dodge Charger involved in the incident, as stated by WWJ Newsradio.
