Lariah Stevens, a Detroit Police Department homicide detective, faces charges alleging high-BAC operating while intoxicated, wrong-way driving on a one-way street and possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol, according to court information reported by WXYZ Channel 7. She was released after her arrest and is scheduled for arraignment September 23.
Department response
The Detroit Police Department said the incident occurred in another jurisdiction while Stevens was off duty. The department reassigned her to administrative work and removed her gun privileges while it conducts an internal review, WXYZ reported. DPD said it will take action if the investigation determines that she violated the law or department policy.
Details of the crash
WXYZ reported that the crash occurred around 8:30 p.m. Thursday near Eight Mile Road and a Lowe’s store in Harper Woods. Stevens was driving a Detroit police cruiser with its emergency lights on when police said it traveled west in the eastbound lanes of Vernier Road and struck another vehicle. She allegedly left the area on foot, leaving two firearms on the cruiser’s front passenger seat, and returned about 20 minutes later.
Related Harper Woods crash
The available reporting does not establish that the Vernier Road corridor has experienced an unusually high number of crashes. In a separate Harper Woods crash on Sept. 21, 2021, one person was killed and three were hospitalized after a vehicle ran a red light at East Vernier Road and North Harper Avenue; police said alcohol and speed were believed to be factors, WDIV ClickOnDetroit reported.
A subsequent breath test recorded a blood alcohol concentration of .19, WXYZ reported. Harper Woods police confirmed the arrest and said the person arrested was released under standard procedure. Stevens has not responded to a request for comment, according to the station.
High-BAC charge
Michigan treats a blood alcohol concentration of .17 or higher as a high-BAC offense. The state’s impaired-driving guidance says a first conviction at that level can carry as much as 180 days in jail, a fine of up to $700, and a license suspension of up to one year. The guidance also describes a required alcohol-treatment program and ignition-interlock conditions for restricted driving after the initial suspension, according to the Michigan State Police.
The available WXYZ account identifies the firearm allegation as possession of a firearm under the influence of alcohol but does not provide the specific statute or explain the potential penalty. DPD policy permits designated officers to take department cruisers home for neighborhood visibility and rapid emergency response, which explains why Stevens was using a department vehicle, according to the article’s existing account.
Professional background
Stevens previously worked in patrol before joining the homicide unit. She was nominated for Detroit’s Officer of the Year award in 2025 and 2026, according to the existing article.
