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A Minneapolis police officer has been charged with manslaughter and vehicular murder for a crash in July that killed an innocent motorist when the officer was pursuing a stolen car, prosecutors reported Friday.
Officer Brian Cummings was driving almost 80 mph in Minneapolis with his siren and lights activated when his squad car slammed into yet another car or truck, killing 40-year-aged Leneal Frazier, Hennepin County Legal professional Mike Freeman mentioned in a assertion.
The crash finished a chase that spanned far more than 20 blocks and roared by residential neighborhoods exactly where the posted speed restrict is 25 mph.
“Law enforcement are supposed to safeguard and serve citizens and to act in a method dependable with their sworn oath to do so. Officer Cummings’ steps deviated from his oath and his negligence induced the loss of life of Leneal Frazier,” Freeman mentioned.
in this July 7, 2021 file photograph, Items rest at a memorial for Leneal Lamont Frazier, in Minneapolis, at the web page of his dying. Frazier died early Tuesday, July 6, following his car was struck by a squad car that police said was pursuing yet another driver linked to several robberies. A Minneapolis law enforcement officer has been billed with manslaughter and vehicular murder in a fatal crash in July that happened even though the officer was pursuing a stolen motor vehicle, a prosecutor declared Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. (Antranik Tavitian/Star Tribune by using AP File)
(Antranik Tavitian/Star Tribune by means of AP File)
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Throughout Cummings’ chase, Frazier’s Jeep entered an intersection on a eco-friendly mild. According to investigators, the driver of the stolen vehicle narrowly skipped the Jeep in advance of the squad automobile struck it on the driver’s aspect.
An accident reconstruction report reported the deadly collision “can be attributed to the Defendant for failure to run his auto with because of regard for the basic safety of other motorists.”
Mayor Jacob Frey claimed immediately after Frazier’s dying that the metropolis would assessment its law enforcement pursuit coverage, and that evaluate was even now ongoing Friday.
A law enforcement spokesman mentioned in the summer time that the plan was not violating all through the chase, but prosecutors plainly disagree.
They cited the plan in their statement: “Officers shall not initiate a pursuit or shall terminate a pursuit in development if the pursuit poses an unreasonable chance to the officers, the public or travellers of the automobile currently being pursued who might be unwilling members.”
Cummings’ legal professional, Tom Plunkett, mentioned the officer was pursuing a suspect in a “violent carjacking” and that the occupants experienced been “on a criminal offense spree, a follow that has sad to say grow to be much too typical in Minneapolis.”
The city’s police union did not straight away respond to a ask for for remark.
Frazier was the uncle of Darnella Frazier, whose cellphone video of Minneapolis law enforcement Officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd’s neck was viewed throughout the world and assisted launch a world-wide protest movement from racial injustice. Chauvin was convicted of murder and sentenced this calendar year in Floyd’s 2020 loss of life.
In the July 9, 2021 file image, from still left, Cheryl Frazier, sister of Leneal Frazier Orlando Frazier, brother of Leneal and Jamie Bradford,, daughter of Leneal, embrace a single a different for the duration of a information convention exterior of Metropolis Corridor in Minneapolis. Leneal Frazier was killed earlier in the week immediately after his motor vehicle was struck by a squad car or truck that police claimed was pursuing another driver joined to many robberies. Frazier was not concerned in the pursuit. A Minneapolis police officer has been charged with manslaughter and vehicular homicide in a lethal crash in July that transpired although the officer was pursuing a stolen car or truck, a prosecutor announced Friday, Oct. 22. (Antranik Tavitian/Star Tribune via AP File)
(22. (Antranik Tavitian/Star Tribune by means of AP File)
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The Frazier household, which had named for Cummings to be prosecuted, welcomed the fees as a initially stage toward justice, according to their legal professionals, Ben Crump and Jeff Storms.
“The Frazier loved ones and our legal team are grateful for the costs brought towards Brian Cummings for the reckless killing of Leneal Frazier,” they mentioned in a statement. “We commend the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office environment for possessing the courage to maintain legislation enforcement accountable in this instance. No harmless civilian ought to ever eliminate their existence for the reason that of unwarranted superior-pace chases in household neighborhoods.”
The two expenses against Cummings have a presumptive jail sentence of 4 decades under state sentencing rules. Jail records display he was introduced on his very own recognizance and has a listening to established for Nov. 9.
The department’s coverage handbook allows pursuits for “critical and violent crimes.” which includes robbery, and “flagrantly reckless driving that is daily life-threatening to the general public.” The criminal criticism said the stolen car was suspected in thefts from firms that associated “some limited use of drive” but none involving weapons or resulted in accidents. Chases for very simple car theft are not allowed.
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Freeman built a new plea Friday for regulation enforcement across the point out to alter their pursuit insurance policies, saying they don’t do plenty of to secure human everyday living. He mentioned responses to past criticism had been “weak and ineffective.” He stated Minnesota companies documented 40 fatal accidents ensuing from pursuits from 2013-2020.
“This will have to end,” Freeman stated. “Pursuits will have to be reserved for only the most critical crimes and conditions.”
The rates towards Cummings arrived a day soon after former Minneapolis police Officer Mohamed Noor was resentenced on a manslaughter charge in the 2017 dying of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, who was shot minutes right after she experienced known as 911 to report a probable sexual assault in the alley guiding her home. They also arrived in advance of a Nov. 2 vote in which Minneapolis citizens will make a decision whether or not to substitute the city’s law enforcement division with a new community safety device.
