The families of Cedric Hayden Jr., 34, and Dejuan Pettis, 33, who tragically lost their lives in a crash involving a Warren police vehicle, have filed a lawsuit against the city and the officers involved, demanding $100 million in damages. The incident occurred early on the morning of September 30, when their Dodge Durango was struck by a patrol car reported to be speeding, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit.
The circumstances remain controversial with doubts lingering about the justification behind the officers' actions; their vehicle reportedly was in excess of 100 mph at the time of the collision without lights or sirens activated, on a stretch of Schoenherr Road where the speed limit is stated as 40 mph, the families' attorney James Harrington IV highlighted the nature of the incident, "This was reckless. This was senseless. And these men should be here with their families," Harrington voiced his concerns in a statement obtained by FOX 2 Detroit.
Within the legal filings are not merely claims regarding the chaotic nature of the incident, but also charges that encompass more than just negligence, encompassing willful and wanton misconduct by the officers; the Warren Police Department is also accused of operating a government-owned vehicle, The lawsuit is the start of several actions planned by Fieger Law, which intends to pursue a civil rights suit, reflecting on the fraught relationship between law enforcement and community borders, "They (Warren police) want to keep Detroit out, and they will use aggressive and dangerous police pursuit police procedures to do that. It's called border patrol," Harrington told FOX 2 Detroit.
Speaking at a press conference, family members expressed their devastation and disbelief, Cedric Hayden Sr., Hayden's father told The Detroit News, “That was my partner, my friend, my clone — he was me,” describing the profound loss he's suffering; at that time, relatives of both Hayden Jr. and Pettis stood united around the podium.
The lawsuit delineates a spectrum of damages sought, including but not limited to conscious physical pain and suffering, medical expenses, funeral costs, and loss of society and companionship, as chronicled by clickondetroit; the Macomb County Sheriff's Office has assumed charge of the investigation.
