Family of man killed in police crash files $100 million lawsuit

WARREN — The family of Cedric Hayden Jr. filed a $100 million lawsuit on Oct. 4 against the city of Warren and the two police officers involved in the fatal car crash that killed Hayden and his best friend, DeJuan Pettis, last month.

Pettis, 33, was driving a new white Dodge Durango that he had gotten a few weeks earlier. Hayden, 34, was the only passenger in the vehicle. The two were going to Hayden’s Warren home just a few blocks away around 5 a.m. on Sept. 30. Pettis and Hayden worked the afternoon shift, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., for General Motors and Stellantis, respectively.

Pettis was traveling northbound on Schoenherr Road and slowed down to let another vehicle going southbound pass before making the left turn. As he was turning left, a Warren police SUV traveling at or more than 100 mph, according to an investigation conducted by the Fieger Law Firm, hit the Durango, causing it to flip over several times before landing on its side. Both men died of their injuries.

Fieger Law held a morning press conference in Southfield on Oct. 7 where the families of Hayden and Pettis gathered. Managing partner James Harrington IV led the press conference and is representing both families along with attorney Gregory Wix, also with the Fieger firm.

“Unfortunately, the reason we’re here, as you can see, two loved members of our community were killed by a Warren police vehicle,” Harrington said.

The men were sons, brothers, fathers and friends to a community of people. They were also described as hardworking, good men who were Lions, Wings and Tigers fans.

At the request of the families, the press conference started with a brief prayer led by Mary Bradshaw, a pastor with Mount Moriah Christian Church. The prayer included giving thanks, gratitude and asking for their needs to be met.

“We thank you for what you are going to do in this situation and for a quick resolve. Lord, I am asking you, right now, to comfort our family, O God. Meet every need that needs to be met in the name of Jesus. And let justice be done,” Bradshaw said.

“This was reckless. This was senseless. And the men should be here with their families,” Harrington said.

The lawsuit was filed in Macomb County Circuit Court and is a state court action, according to Harrington. The case has three counts. The first count involves negligence, gross negligence and wanton and willful misconduct by the two officers. The other two counts involve owner liability. The police vehicle in the crash was owned by the city of Warren and imposes liability on the city.

 

Families, friends are left grieving
Family members present at the press conference said they are trying to understand how the police can be so “reckless” while on the public roadways.

“We need the Warren police commissioner to understand, there is no such thing as a safe pursuit at all. For months, there have been tragedies leading to fatalities when it comes to high-speed chases for speeding, no license and no insurance. None of that is enough reason to take a life,” Hayden’s sister, Daedreana Jordan, said. “(You’re) out here doing 100 miles an hour in the middle of the night, early in the morning. How is that safe with no lights on? It’s not worth it. We lost two innocent people.”

Hayden’s family would like to see the officers involved in the crash charged with murder and suspended without pay.

The press conference introduced what will likely be the first of many lawsuits to come.

“We will be filing a series of additional lawsuits, Harrington said. “The first case that was filed was on behalf of Cedric and his family, who are all here with us. DeJuan’s case will be filed as soon as possible. We’re working through probate (court) to have a representative appointed.”

According to Harrington, it just took a little longer in Wayne County where Pettis was a resident than it did in Macomb County where Hayden lived.

“Ask yourself, what is the real story here?” Harrington said. “Ask yourselves, why (were they speeding)? What were they doing?”

He said the other lawsuits will be federal civil rights lawsuits; however, more documents and investigation are needed.

“What has happened here is Warren has taken a position. They need to patrol their borders,” Harrington said. “They need to keep their borders safe.”

The police were headed south on Schoenherr toward Eight Mile Road, about four blocks away from the city’s border with Detroit, he said.

“This is a truth that some people in our community live with every day, this border patrol policing. People in our community know this as a truth,” Harrington said. “And there’s other people in our community that don’t want to acknowledge the truth. And there’s other people who say that doesn’t happen. Look around. It happens and it happened. This border patrol policing has to stop.”

A press release in response to the lawsuit was issued by the Warren Police Department.

“While we know this is a hard time for the families of the deceased, and we all would like answers to many important questions, the only proper source for answers is the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office who is conducting an independent investigation into this unfortunate incident,” the release stated. “The Warren Police Department has been fully cooperative with the Sheriff’s Office during their investigation into this incident. Careful investigation of all of the facts is necessary to ensure unbiased and accurate conclusions are drawn. As with any investigation involving serious injuries or death, both officers have been placed on administrative leave pending a complete investigatory report.”

The statement continued, “The entire City of Warren sends our condolences again to the families of all involved and the community impacted by this tragic auto accident. We are also praying for the full recovery of the two officers involved, one of who continues to remain hospitalized for his injuries.”

At the press conference, 7-year-old DeJuan Pettis Jr. said about the police, “Why did the people who were supposed to save us take away my family?”