WARREN (WWJ) -- A Detroit man has been charged with Second Degree Murder and other crimes after a police chase that killed an innocent 71-year-old Hazel Park woman.
Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido charged Anthony Eugene-Douglas Grier Jr., 33, with Second Degree Murder, Fleeing a Police Officer in the First Degree and Assaulting/Resisting/Obstructing a Police Officer. The incident caused a crash that led to the death of wife, mother and grandmother Wendy Drew.
"I'm aware that there is a perception that there is an increasing number of pursuits in the city of Warren," Warren Police Commissioner Eric Hawkins said. "I am aware that there is a perception that our officers don't use the appropriate discretion with these pursuits... but here are the facts: pursuits are actually down 50% year to date compared to this time period last year."
Prosecutors said officers observed Grier driving 70 miles in a 40 mile-an-hour zone on Van Dyke on Saturday, May 24, around 9:30 p.m. Police activated their lights and sirens-- and attempted a traffic stop. Grier allegedly sped away from officers in his Chrysler 300, drove onto the sidewalk, and into the middle turn lane while disregarding several traffic lights. Authorities said he was going over 100 miles per hour, over sixty miles above the maximum posted speed limit.
The pursuit came to a tragic end when Grier entered the intersection of South Van Dyke and 9 Mile, striking Drew's car, prosecutors said. Drew was rushed to a local hospital where she died.
A second vehicle was also involved in the crash. No one was injured in that car.
Officers saw a man trying to run away after the crash-- and identified him as Grier. He was taken into custody.
"For every police pursuit we have, there is a suspect who has decided to use his or her vehicle as a weapon against innocent people in our communities," Hawkins said.
The officers involved were placed on administrative leave.
Grier was arraigned in the 37th District Court on Tuesday where he was remanded into custody. A Not Guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
The second degree murder charge carries up to a life sentence. He is due back in court on June 5.
Wendy Drew was a mother of five, a grandmother to 23 and had been married to her husband for over 50 years.