Current:Home > ScamsMan fatally shot by Detroit police during traffic stop; officer dragged 20 yards-LoTradeCoin
Man fatally shot by Detroit police during traffic stop; officer dragged 20 yards
View Date:2024-12-23 18:39:26
Detroit police have fatally shot a man who they say dragged an officer with his car as he tried to flee a traffic stop.
The Detroit Police Department said that its gang intelligence unit pulled the man over on the city's west side around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday.
The man refused to hand over his ID and tried to drive off, and that's when an officer reached into the car with his leg and stepped on the brake pedal, assistant police Chief Charles Fitzgerald said. The officer's attempt to stop the car didn't work and he was dragged about 20 yards, Fitzgerald said.
The officer's partner entered the struggle by attempting to deploy a Taser, which, according to Fitzgerald, did not take. The driver put the vehicle in reverse, Fitzgerald said, and the officer was dragged again as the man drove backwards.
The officer who was dragged then fired two shots at the driver, hitting him in the upper chest, police said.
The driver, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The officer who was dragged was being treated at a hospital.
Gun, narcotics recovered from vehicle
The Detroit Police said that a Glock ghost gun with an extended magazine and equipped with a switch was recovered from the front driver’s side floorboard along with a large amount of drugs, including oxycodone, crack cocaine, ecstasy, promethazine, marijuana, a scale and cash.
Ghost guns have no serial number and are unregulated and untraceable.
Fitzgerald said the weapon had a Glock switch, which transforms semi-automatic guns into fully automatic firearms.
"I say that to say that if he pulled the trigger on the officers, 15 rounds come out quickly," Fitzgerald told reporters. "You can do a lot of damage. It's terrifying."
'Slushygate':Videos show 'elite' Louisville police unit tossing drinks on unsuspecting pedestrians
2 decades later:Body wrapped in tire chains in Kentucky lake identified as man who disappeared in 1999
Preliminary investigation
The vehicle's passenger was taken into custody for questioning and has since been released, said the police.
The driver had been out on bond for felony receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle and felony carrying a concealed weapon, violating the law as he was not allowed to have a weapon as part of his bond conditions.
Officer sent on administrative leave
Body camera footage should be released within 45 days on YouTube, per Detroit Police Chief James White's recent commitment to routinely release footage of police shootings and other critical incidents within that time frame.
The Detroit Police Board of Commissioners is pushing the Detroit Police Department to release footage within 12 days under a similar recommendation. The board drafted a city ordinance that will be proposed to city council.
The officer involved in the incident will also be placed on administrative leave, per department policy.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.
veryGood! (226)
Related
- The 10 Best Cashmere Sweaters and Tops That Feel Luxuriously Soft and Are *Most Importantly* Affordable
- Kourtney Kardashian Ends Her Blonde Era: See Her New Hair Transformation
- Missouri to restrict gender-affirming care for trans adults this week
- Major psychologists' group warns of social media's potential harm to kids
- Gossip Girl Actress Chanel Banks Reported Missing After Vanishing in California
- Looking for a refreshing boost this summer? Try lemon water.
- Unraveling a hidden cause of UTIs — plus how to prevent them
- Car rams into 4 fans outside White Sox ballpark in Chicago
- Deommodore Lenoir contract details: 49ers ink DB to $92 million extension
- What’s an Electric Car Champion Doing in Romney’s Inner Circle?
Ranking
- Father, 5 children hurt in propane tank explosion while getting toys: 'Devastating accident'
- Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta other tech firms agree to AI safeguards set by White House
- Climate Change Threatens the World’s Fisheries, Food Billions of People Rely On
- Heading to Barbie Land? We'll help you get there with these trendy pink Barbiecore gifts
- 'Heretic' spoilers! Hugh Grant spills on his horror villain's fears and fate
- One way to prevent gun violence? Treat it as a public health issue
- These $26 Amazon Flats Come in 31 Colors & Have 3,700+ Five-Star Reviews
- Pandemic hits 'stop button,' but for some life is forever changed
Recommendation
-
Bankruptcy judge questioned Shilo Sanders' no-show at previous trial
-
WHO ends global health emergency declaration for COVID-19
-
John Durham, Trump-era special counsel, testifies about sobering report on FBI's Russia probe
-
See maps of where the Titanic sank and how deep the wreckage is amid search for missing sub
-
Tua Tagovailoa playing with confidence as Miami Dolphins hope MNF win can spark run
-
Blake Shelton Gets in One Last Dig at Adam Levine Before Exiting The Voice
-
Judge blocks Arkansas's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth
-
Cleveland Becomes Cleantech Leader But Ohio Backtracks on Renewable Energy