Man shot by Detroit police headed to trial after dragging officer with car
DETROIT (FOX 2) - As authorities review officers' conduct after a police-involved shooting, a man is headed to trial for hitting and dragging a Detroit officer with his car last month.
Police approached Raymonte Darrell Adams, 19, after spotting him inside a car that was blocking the sidewalk around 11:40 p.m. Dec. 11. 2024.
The backstory:
Bodycam and dashcam video released last week showed three officers approaching Adams' car with guns drawn on St. Mary's, not far from Seven Mile.
As officers yelled for Adams and his passenger to put their hands up, Adams reversed, hitting a car parked behind him.
"Put your hands up, you're going to get shot," an officer yelled after he backed up.
Adams then maneuvered the vehicle toward an officer standing in front of the vehicle, identified by DPD as Officer A.
Amid the chaos of officers yelling, it is difficult to make out who is saying what, but one officer can be heard saying, "I'm gonna (expletive) shoot you," before Officer A fired multiple shots through the windshield.
The driver, who was struck in the chest, then drove forward, hitting and dragging Officer A. Another officer, identified as Officer B, fired shots at the back of the vehicle.
The 18-year-old driver continued fleeing before getting out of the car a few blocks away and calling 911.
Officers arrived at the scene and tended to his injuries before taking him to a hospital, where he was treated and released. The passenger who also fled later turned himself into police.
Watch the video below. NOTE: The video contains mature language and footage. It may be disturbing to some.
What's next:
A few days after the assault and shooting, Adams was charged with assault with intent to murder, third-degree fleeing and eluding, and resisting and obstructing police.
He was bound over to Third Circuit Court last week, just days before police released video of what happened.
What they're saying:
Adams' mother believes police used excessive force.
"They were yelling that they were going to kill my son, they were yelling that he was going to die tonight," she said.
She also claims her son did not hear the officers' commands, and blames the officer who was hit for standing in front of the car.
"You decided to create a situation," said the mother. "The officer placed himself in front of the vehicle as if he wanted to try to stop it on his own."
The incident is being investigated by a Homicide Task Force consisting of members from Michigan State. Detroit police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will investigate. Their completed investigation report will be provided to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, who will determine if criminal charges are warranted.
An administrative review is also being conducted to determine if the officers acted in accordance with their training and department policies.
If it is determined that the officers violated policy, they could be disciplined.
The Source: Information in this story is from a Detroit police media briefing, a Wayne County Prosecutor's Office press release, and an interview with Raymonte Adams' mother.