In the wake of a deadly collision that took the lives of two men, recent disclosures have surfaced surrounding the incident involving Warren police. According to a toxicology report, Cedric Hayden Jr., the driver of the vehicle that was struck by a Warren police cruiser, had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit at the time of the crash on September 30. CBS News Detroit reports that despite the finding, the legal team for the families of Hayden Jr. and his passenger, Dejuan Pettis, asserts that it doesn't detract from the culpability of Officer James Burke, who was reportedly driving at speeds exceeding 100 mph.
The attorney representing the families, James Harrington from Fieger Law, has criticized the release of the autopsy results as a form of victim shaming and maintains that the evidence does not minimize the responsibility of the officer involved. "This release of whatever this is has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Officer Burke was breaking the law," Harrington told CBS News Detroit. Officer Burke, not using sirens or flashers during the pursuit, now faces two counts of manslaughter—charges that the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office has confirmed will not be affected by the toxicology report.
Following the incident, two separate $100 million civil lawsuits were filed against the Warren Police Department. According to FOX 2 Detroit, Harrington insists that the revelation of Hayden's intoxication is irrelevant to the civil case, stating that for the evidence to be admissible, it must have a causal link to the occurrence, which he claims is absent in this situation.
Video evidence has been a crucial element supporting the victims' adherence to traffic laws, with Harrington asserting, "We see them conforming and adhering to all the laws in the state of Michigan," in an interview obtained by FOX 2 Detroit. This narrative is further complicated by Burke's account, which was underpinned by the urgency of responding to a call without the necessary visual and auditory signals that are required.
Coverage from ClickOnDetroit also mentions that despite the car being registered under Pettis, sources close to the investigation informed Local 4 that it was Hayden who was behind the wheel at the time of the accident. The unfolding events and legal proceedings continue to be monitored closely, as the implications of the toxicology findings are considered alongside the actions of the officer on that fateful morning.
