Detroit man charged with murder after crash during Warren police chase kills woman
High-speed chase in Warren ends in fatal crash with another driver
Warren police's policy for high speed pursuits is now under scrutiny following a tragic case that left one woman dead after a Detroit man fled officers before crashing into her vehicle.
WARREN, Mich. (FOX 2) - A Detroit man is facing several charges, including murder, after police say he caused a fatal crash while fleeing Warren officers over the weekend.
Officers spotted a Chrysler 300, driven by 33-year-old Anthony Eugene-Douglas Grier Jr., going 72 mph in a 40 mph zone on Van Dyke near Miller just after 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
The backstory:
Grier did not stop, leading police on a chase. The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office said he allegedly drove on the sidewalk, in the middle turn lane, ran red lights, and reached speeds faster than 100 mph as he evaded officers.
Warren Police Lt. John Gajewski said additional officers and Michigan State Police air support were called as the chase continued on Van Dyke, with Grier running six red lights in the process. Officers had these intersections blocked.
Gajewski said officers deployed stop sticks at Van Dyke and 10 Mile, but Grier continued driving. More officers were at Eight Mile with stop sticks, but Grier didn't make it that far.
Dashcam shows fatal Warren police chase
Dashcam video from a Warren police vehicle showed a chase that ended with an innocent driver dead. Police said Anthony Grier fled when officers tried to stop him for going 72 mph in a 40 mph zone.
While at the intersection of Van Dyke and Nine Mile, the suspect hit two vehicles, including one being driven by 71-year-old Wendy Drew. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Drew leaves behind her husband of more than 50 years, five children, and 23 grandchildren.
"It’s tragic that it was a senseless loss of life," Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido said. "In this case here, there was a total disregard for life on that road."
Grier fled his crashed car on foot, but was caught.
He was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree fleeing police, and assaulting/resisting/obstructing police, and remanded to the Macomb County Jail.
Dig deeper:
Grier has a criminal record that includes convictions of operating on a suspended license, receiving and concealing stolen property, and attempted fleeing and eluding. He also has 15 prior traffic offenses on his record.
Additionally, police said he has an open court case after being charged with carrying a concealed firearm in Warren in March.
However, police said they aren't sure why Grier chose to run rather than stop because he currently has a valid driver's license and had no warrants.
Big picture view:
At a press conference Wednesday, Warren Police Commissioner Eric Hawkins addressed concerns about chases in the city. He said this chase, and all chases his officers engage in, are reviewed to ensure they comply with department policy. The officers involved are currently on administrative leave, per that policy.
Hawkins did not have the exact numbers, but said that chases in Warren year-to-date are down about 50% compared to this time last year. Roughly half of those have been terminated, either by the chasing officer or a supervisor monitoring the chase, Hawkins said. In Warren, supervisors monitor pursuits in real time.
"We are clearly trending in a positive direction with respect to this high-risk activity," he said.
Hawkins noted that the issue lies with people choosing to run from police.
"This is not a police problem. This is a people problem, people who have refused to comply with lawful orders," he said. "This has to be addressed."
The Source: This information is from the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, a Warren police press conference, and previous FOX 2 reporting.