An off-duty Detroit police officer ended last Friday in handcuffs after a late-night hit-and-run crash in Sterling Heights that left a teen driver's car mangled but everyone thankfully unhurt, authorities said. The collision happened just before midnight near Metropolitan Parkway and Van Dyke Avenue, and investigators say the other driver took off instead of stopping at the scene. Officers later tracked the vehicle by its license plate to a nearby home, arrested the woman and booked her into the Macomb County Jail while they wait on blood test results.
According to FOX 2 Detroit, the crash happened around 11:45 p.m. when a woman driving a blue 2026 Toyota Camry turned into the path of a 17-year-old who was heading eastbound on Metropolitan Parkway with a green light. The impact shoved the teen's vehicle into a nearby fire hydrant, but no injuries were reported. FOX 2 Detroit reported that sources confirmed the driver is an off-duty Detroit police officer, whose name is being withheld until she is formally arraigned.
Sterling Heights officers told investigators they were able to pull the Camry's license plate number, which led them to a residence where they found the damaged car and the suspected driver, according to CBS Detroit. Police arrested the woman on suspicion of operating while impaired and booked her into the Macomb County Jail pending the outcome of a blood test.
In a statement to ClickOnDetroit, the Detroit Police Department tried to put distance between the badge and the alleged behavior. The department said, "That type of conduct is not in line with our core values," and confirmed that Internal Affairs will investigate while the officer sits on administrative leave. That internal probe will run alongside the criminal investigation being handled by Sterling Heights detectives and Macomb County prosecutors.
Investigation And What Comes Next
Sterling Heights police say the case is still very much active and are asking anyone who saw the crash or has video of it to contact the department, according to FOX 2 Detroit. The officer's identity will remain under wraps until the arraignment, and prosecutors will decide on any charges after they get the bloodwork results. So far, investigators have not put a timeline on when charging decisions or an arraignment might happen.
Legal Stakes For The Off-Duty Officer
The officer was arrested on suspicion of operating while impaired and jailed while authorities await the results of a blood test, which will help determine whether criminal charges are filed, according to CBS Detroit. If prosecutors move forward with OWI charges, the case would play out in Macomb County courts at the same time Detroit Police Internal Affairs weighs possible discipline. The criminal and administrative tracks are separate, so an internal finding would not prevent prosecutors from pursuing charges.
