WARREN (WWJ) -- A 17-year-old is behind bars without bond, accused of leading police on a high-speed chase before slamming into and killing an innocent driver.
While sympathetic to the innocent victim involved, Warren Police Commissioner Eric Hawkins went before the media on Wedneday to defend the practice of high-speed pursuits in his department.
On Thursday, June 18, the pursuit of a stolen Dodge Ram pickup truck led to a seven minute chase at speeds upwards of 89 mph, before the driver of that truck slammed into another, uninvolved vehicle.
In that car was 48-year-old Remius Washington of Detroit, who was killed.
Hawkins, who released dash cam video of the incident to the media, said his department his not at fault for the fatal wreck.
"Our officers did not create this tragedy," Hawkins told WWJ's Jon Hewett and other reporters. "We are here today because a 17-year-old murdered Mr. Washington. We're here because of a deliberate calculated chain of choices made by that individual."
That 17-year-old driver, Deyarin Marsh of Detroit, appeared in court for an arraignment on Wednesday.
Deyarin Marsh booking photo
Warren PD
He is charged as an adult with felony murder and second degree murder, which is punishable by up to life in prison.
Police said that Marsh had three other teenagers in the stolen truck, along with his 11-year-old brother, at the time of the chase.
The group, police said, was suspected of stealing multiple vehicles in Warren neighborhoods over several days.
Pressed as to whether he thinks these high-speed chases are worth the risk, Hawkins said his officers are simply trying to keep the community safe.
He said his officers were following proper procedures of the Warren PD, and that vehicle pursuits are actually down in Warren 40%.
"There is no consensus on what the threshold should be for the initiation and continuance of a pursuit of a pursuit. It varies from community to community," Hawkins said. "Often it varies among neighboring communities."
"But that difference in perspective does not mean that one community is right on this issue and another community is wrong. It just simply means that this is a complex issue."
With this case in mind, Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido is urging Michigan lawmakers to immediately address legislation that would allow harsher punishments for fleeing and eluding:
"Dealing with the loved ones that are left behind, I'm sure they're gonna have a lot to say," Lucido said. "They lost a loved one, a family member, a son, an uncle. And, as a result, I think that that discussion should be taken up into discussion immediately."
Lucido said his office does not allow plea deals for fleeing and eluding because it's always a choice.
