Detroit police officer pleads no contest in fatal crash that killed lawyer
Officer Teaira Funderburg, left, late attorney Cliff Woodards
DETROIT (AP) - A Detroit police officer pleaded no contest Monday in a high-speech crash that killed a lawyer in 2021.
The Wayne County prosecutor agreed to drop an involuntary manslaughter charge against Teaira Funderburg in exchange for a no-contest plea to willful neglect of duty.
Funderburg faces a year of probation and 100 hours of community service, the prosecutor’s office said. She will also give up her police certification.
Investigators said Funderburg disregarded a red light while rushing to help another officer when her patrol SUV smashed into a car driven by Cliff Woodards in February 2021.
Woodards was a defense attorney who regularly had cases in Wayne County courts.
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"There’s no winner here," said Arnold Reed, an attorney for his family. "Obviously we can’t bring Cliff back, but she will never wear a uniform for the rest of her life. This comes at a great price for her."
Reed is suing the city over the fatal crash.