A Detroit man accused of turning a six-minute police chase into a fatal crash is now facing a jury in Mount Clemens, with prosecutors saying his split-second decisions on Van Dyke Avenue cost a Hazel Park woman her life.
On Tuesday, Anthony Eugene-Douglas Grier Jr. went on trial in Macomb County Circuit Court, charged with the death of 71-year-old Wendy Drew. Prosecutors say Grier’s vehicle slammed into Drew’s car at South Van Dyke Avenue and 9 Mile Road during a high-speed pursuit with Warren police last year. The case is being heard before Judge Matthew P. Sabaugh.
Prosecutors’ Account
Prosecutors told jurors the chase stretched more than eight miles and lasted about six minutes, with the driver allegedly topping 115 mph and running multiple red lights. Officer Chad Lee, who pursued the vehicle, testified that the driver shut off his headlights and even jumped onto the sidewalk while trying to get away from police, according to Macomb Daily.
Charges and Prosecutor's Statement
The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office has charged Grier with second-degree murder, first-degree fleeing and eluding a police officer, and assaulting/resisting/obstructing an officer. Officials say the charges stem from the May 24, 2025, incident along Van Dyke Avenue in Warren, and that the second-degree murder count is punishable by life or any term of years under Michigan law.
“The alleged decision to flee law enforcement at extreme speeds placed innocent members of the public in grave danger,” Prosecutor Peter Lucido wrote in a press release from the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office.
Night of the Crash
Warren police say it started when officers tried to pull over a Chrysler 300 for speeding on Van Dyke on the evening of May 24, 2025. According to officials, the driver refused to stop, continued south, and entered the intersection at South Van Dyke and 9 Mile, where the Chrysler struck an eastbound vehicle.
Drew, the lone occupant of that car, was taken to a hospital and later died of her injuries, as reported by ClickOnDetroit.
Trial Testimony and Defense
In court, prosecutors framed the deadly collision as a foreseeable outcome of choosing to flee at extreme speeds. Defense attorney Joshua Van Laan, however, urged jurors to consider a lesser manslaughter verdict and argued that his client was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.
Witnesses described the impact in stark terms. Tasha Willis testified that the hit to her Jeep Cherokee was “very, very hard,” and a relative recounted that Drew had just left a 75th birthday party when her car was struck. Prosecutors also told jurors Grier ran from the scene after getting out of his vehicle and was arrested less than a minute later. Jurors were expected to continue deliberations and likely wrap up the trial on Friday, according to Macomb Daily.
Legal Context and Next Steps
If convicted of second-degree murder, Grier faces life in prison or any term of years under Michigan law, with the fleeing and resisting charges carrying additional potential penalties. The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office previously announced that the trial had been rescheduled earlier this year and would begin in July at Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens, and said it is pursuing the case on behalf of Drew’s family, per the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office.
