Nearly a year after Justin Roettger, a beloved events worker at The Crofoot known around Pontiac as "J-Rock," was killed in a downtown hit-and-run, his family is still waiting for someone to be charged. The crash report lists a driver, but prosecutors have asked investigators for more information and have not authorized charges, a gap that has left those closest to Roettger frustrated and exhausted.
The crash happened just after 11 p.m. on May 15, 2025, as Roettger was escorting two guests across North Saginaw Street at East Huron following a show, according to FOX 2 Detroit. Deputies believe a smaller black SUV with front-end damage ran a flashing red light and struck the group in the crosswalk, killing Roettger at the scene and sending the two women he was helping to the hospital. Friends and his mother remembered him as a warm, familiar presence in Pontiac's music and hospitality scene.
Although the crash report identified a driver, prosecutors have requested more details from detectives and have not yet signed off on an arrest, as reported by ClickOnDetroit. Family members say the delay has kept them from anything resembling closure, so they are still hunting for surveillance footage and possible witnesses who might finally push the investigation across the finish line.
In June 2025, the community tried to answer that grief the way music communities often do: with a packed house and a fundraiser. A public celebration of Roettger’s life was held at The Crofoot, and friends organized efforts to help his mother, according to event listings and a community fundraiser. The Crofoot shared details of the memorial, and a GoFundMe page collected donations from across the local scene.
Investigators Are Still Combing Through Footage And Tips
Oakland County Sheriff's deputies and the crash reconstruction unit say they have reviewed nearby surveillance and are still asking the public for help while evidence is processed, according to local reporting. WWJ Newsradio noted that investigators continue to treat video and witness tips as crucial pieces in trying to move the case forward.
Why Hit-And-Run Probes Can Stall
Hit-and-run crashes are not just a local headache. They have risen across the country, and a growing share of pedestrian deaths now involve drivers who take off, a trend that can make investigations like Pontiac’s slower and tougher to resolve. A new analysis from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that hit-and-run injuries and fatalities continued to increase through 2023. The Governors Highway Safety Association reports that roughly one in four pedestrian deaths now involves a hit-and-run driver, a reality that complicates evidence collection, suspect identification, and charging decisions for local prosecutors.
Legal Implications
Under Michigan law, leaving the scene of a crash that results in death is a felony offense. The Michigan Vehicle Code allows for penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000 when a driver flees a deadly crash, and separate sections cover crashes that cause injury, according to the Michigan Legislature and state court benchbooks. Prosecutors must be able to prove elements such as the driver’s involvement and that the person had reason to know an accident occurred before they file charges, a standard that can stretch timelines in complex hit-and-run cases.
For now, Roettger’s friends and family keep pressing investigators for answers while deputies methodically verify tips and review footage. Anyone with information about the crash or the vehicle is asked to contact the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office at 248-858-4950, local outlets note. FOX 2 Detroit and other reporting emphasize that even small pieces of information can be enough to jolt a stalled hit-and-run investigation back to life.
