Warren police deny $60 million lawsuit filed by hit-and-run Dodge Charger driver

WARREN, Mich. (FOX 2) – Warren police are rejecting claims the department acted improperly when a fleeing driver pursued a woman during a pursuit in June.

Video from two different Warren police cars released the chase and its aftermath, and captured the start of the pursuit and the aftermath of the fire when the fleeing driver hit a semi truck and a car.

Responding to Brittney Turner’s $60 million lawsuit, Warren Police Lt. John Hajewski called the story of her lawsuit against the department “so patently false.”

He argued that Turner’s “engaging in such defamatory conduct speaks directly to her improper profit motive.”

Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, Gajewski said the department followed protocol when it came to the police pursuit that occurred shortly before 9 a.m. on June 8.

Turner was injured after being struck by a Dodge Charger driven by Keith Jones, 22, of Warren.

Patrol officers came across a car in one of the city’s neighborhoods when they noticed that it had no license plates. After turning on its headlights, the Charger sped off and police followed.

After reaching speeds of at least 100 mph, Jones ran a red light at Southbound Mound Road and Eight Mile, crashing into a semi truck and a BMW driven by Turner.

On the dash cam, police pull Turner out of the passenger window of her car. Warren police later took her to the hospital.

Turner blamed the Warren Police Department for her injuries, which included facial bruising and a broken pelvis. But Gajewski said Turner’s anger was misplaced.

“There is one person who made the decision to turn the stop into a vehicle pursuit, and that is Keith Jones,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “A bad guy hit an innocent driver, but we were blamed. are you kidding That’s not what any of us need to hear.”

Jones pleaded guilty to one count of fleeing and eluding, and was sentenced to prison and probation.

The department expects the lawsuit to be dismissed by a judge.