ARLINGTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A motorcyclist from Paw Paw has died following a crash in Van Buren County Monday night.
Michigan State Police (MSP) said the crash, which involved a Bangor police officer, happened near 30th Avenue on M-43 in Arlington Township at 11:30 p.m.
"[Police] dragged the front wheel of the motorcycle and put it on the side of the road," said Billie Hunter who witnessed the aftermath of the crash. "I noticed over here the gentleman on the bike’s shoe was over here, on the other side of my driveway."
Bangor City Manager Tommy Simpson told FOX 17 on Tuesday that the officer tried to pull over a motorcyclist downtown for having defective equipment and a license plate violation. The biker took off on M-43, and, along with a fellow motorcyclist, sped away. The officer pursued the first motorcyclist but lost sight of him.
"Upon further investigation, one of the motorcycles that was in that group had hit this truck that was backing out, which led to the fatality," Simpson said during an interview at City Hall. "Our officer later struck that truck in the road as well."
Simpson clarified that it was the biker, who the officer was not pulling over or pursuing, who died in the crash. The officer and pickup driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
"I placed the officer on paid administrative leave, pending the investigation," Simpson said. "And once the chief of police and state police submit their reports, I’ll review them and I’ll make a proper determination."
Another aspect under review is the department's police chase policy. FOX 17 obtained a copy of it, which states:
"Pursuits are permitted when the individual officer knows or has reasonable grounds to believe the person being pursued has committed or attempted to commit a serious felony."
The policy defined a serious felony as an "actual or threatened attack" that the officer believes could lead to death.
"Pursuits are also permitted when the individual officer knows or has reasonable grounds to believe the person being pursued has committed or attempted to commit a violent misdemeanor (examples include but are not limited to domestic assault, criminal sexual conduct, leaving the scene of accident causing injury). Officers shall not pursue for simple traffic violations. The act of flee and elude alone, does not permit officers to pursuit."
It also stated that officers can be held criminally, civilly and departmentally responsible for continuing a pursuit when it's concluded that it should've discontinued.
"The police chief has a policy adapted at the police department," Simpson said. "I have received it. I am reviewing it to see if the chase was in line with policy. And I’ll make that determination at a later time."
**NOTE: It was previously reported the motorcyclist who was being pursued was the one who died in the crash. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
