Police surveillance group before teenager hit cruiser during pursuit
Authorities monitor group prior to teen struck by police car in chase.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Recent revelations from Kent County sheriff’s reports shed light on the events leading up to the tragic death of 17-year-old Riley Doggett, who was struck and injured by a patrol car while attempting to flee from police.
According to the reports, detectives had been closely monitoring the group that Doggett was running with prior to the incident. Doggett, who tragically passed away last week, was involved in a chase in a stolen Range Rover on April 8.
The reports, which were provided by Doggett’s family attorney, revealed that the Range Rover had been linked to several criminal activities, including multiple larcenies, stolen vehicles, stolen handguns, and numerous pursuits in Kent and Ottawa counties. The individuals inside the vehicle were also reported to be armed with guns.
On April 5, just three days before the chase, Kent County detectives executed a search warrant and recovered stolen items such as gift cards, key fobs, AirPods, and two handguns.
Police Pursuit and Tragic Outcome
The fatal incident occurred when a Kent County deputy spotted the stolen Range Rover at US-131 and 44th Street in Wyoming. This sighting came shortly after the vehicle, along with a stolen Nissan, had been involved in a high-speed chase with Holland police, reaching speeds of 120 mph before being terminated near the Kent-Ottawa line on I-196.
During the subsequent chase in Kent County, which reached speeds of 80 mph, Doggett and another individual jumped out of the Range Rover, causing it to crash into parked cars at 32nd Street and S. Division Avenue in Wyoming. Doggett, described as a passenger in the vehicle, was running away when he was struck by the deputy’s cruiser.
Following the incident, a witness reported seeing the second suspect, a 17-year-old from Grand Rapids Township, carrying a gun in his waistband as he fled the scene. The suspect was later apprehended by police in a nearby backyard.
Questions Surrounding the Incident
Riley Doggett’s family attorney, Ven Johnson, has raised concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the case. Despite claims that the suspects were armed, no guns were ever found at the scene.
Johnson emphasised that the use of a patrol car to strike a fleeing individual constitutes deadly force, which raises questions about the circumstances leading to Doggett’s tragic death.
The Kent County Sheriff’s Office maintains that Doggett’s injuries were unintentional and a result of the inherent risks associated with the criminal activities he was allegedly involved in leading up to the incident.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Following Doggett’s death, his 17-year-old co-accused is facing charges as a juvenile for fleeing a police officer, receiving and concealing the stolen vehicle, and resisting arrest.
The Michigan State Police are conducting an investigation into the incident, with the case set to be reviewed by the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office. However, the prosecutor has yet to receive the state police reports.
The family’s attorney continues to press for transparency and accountability in the handling of the case, urging for the release of dashboard camera footage to shed light on the events leading to Riley Doggett’s untimely demise.
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1. Reports police watched group before teen hit by cruiser during chase
2. Police watched group before teen hit by cruiser during chase reports.
