Breaking news … Speeding driver crashes into police car and market

Firefighters use a power saw to free a car that crashed into Surma Bazar market Monday afternoon on Jos. Campau, located just north of Caniff.

 

By Charles Sercombe
A driver sped through a red light this afternoon at Jos. Campau and Caniff and crashed into a Detroit patrol car, and then ricocheted through the front of a Jos. Campau market.
There were no apparent serious injuries, and the driver was arrested at the scene.
There was no immediate information from the police department about the driver’s identity or what charges he will face.
Hamtramck School Boardmember Maggie Srodek told The Review that she witnessed the accident as she was waiting to turn southbound on Jos. Campau at about 1:30 p.m.
Srodek said the driver was going northbound on Jos. Campau “at a high-rate of speed” when he hit the front end of the police car, and then careened into the Surma Bazar market, located across from PNC Bank.
The driver managed to get out of the car he was driving, and although he seemed dazed, Srodek sensed he was going to run away.

Police officers apprehend the driver of the speeding vehicle. Photo by Maggie Srodek

Srodek immediately pulled over after the accident, and first checked on the Detroit officer’s condition. That’s when she noticed the driver was out and looking like he was about to run.
Srodek, who is licensed to carry a concealed gun, took out her 9mm handgun and ordered him to hit the ground.
“I was screaming at him to get down on his knees,” Srodek said.
The driver complied.
“I made sure he could see my gun,” Srodek said.
The officer in the patrol car that was hit then handcuffed the driver. Both were taken away by ambulance.
Amazingly, no pedestrians were in front of the market at the time of the crash.
“Thank God no one was out walking,” Srodek said.
According to witnesses, the owner of the market was in the store but was not injured.
Firefighters had to cut away metal framing of the building to free the car.

The damaged Detroit polcie patrol car. Photo by Roy Feldman

25 Responses to Breaking news … Speeding driver crashes into police car and market

  1. Russ Gordon

    May 11, 2020 at 7:31 pm

    Go Maggie!

  2. David Ludwig

    May 11, 2020 at 8:44 pm

    I’ve heard of Covid19 curbside service, but this driver took it to a whole other level!!

  3. David Ludwig

    May 11, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    The result of when a store advertises toilet tissue half off during a pandemic.

  4. David Ludwig

    May 11, 2020 at 9:25 pm

    The end result of not following Whitmer’s stay at home orders.

  5. David Ludwig

    May 11, 2020 at 9:38 pm

    Maggie Srodek. SHE HAS THE MEATS!!

  6. Dan Augustine

    May 12, 2020 at 12:06 am

    Way to go Maggie! Great work helping out as any good citizen and true Hamtramck resident would do! I’m glad someone brave was there and not some idiot who would have abetted the law breaker (speeding, running a red light, out running police…)

  7. A

    May 12, 2020 at 6:16 am

    Maggie you are amazing!

  8. Andrea Augustine

    May 12, 2020 at 9:42 am

    Thank you Maggie, for your bravery. A good gal with a gun is more of what society needs than these idiots defending the perp. Well done! xoxo

  9. Joe Ignaczak

    May 12, 2020 at 10:25 am

    “A person may use deadly force if the individual has an honest and reasonable belief that such force is necessary to prevent the IMMINENT DEATH, Great Bodily Harm, or Sexual Assault to them or another individual.”(MCPL 28.425). A responsible CPL holder does not do things like “I made sure he could see my gun” when approaching a possible hit-and-run suspect. A whole lot of things are wrong with her behavior. I wonder if the Hamtramck PD (or Prosecutor) are going to counsel her on this.

  10. Jaroslaw

    May 13, 2020 at 1:36 pm

    Joe, your points are good but would you feel the same if YOUR store window was demolished? We are always so worried about violating the rights of the criminals – we should equally be concerned about victims.

  11. Dan Augustine

    May 13, 2020 at 1:51 pm

    I wonder if the Hamtramck PD (or Prosecutor) are going to counsel the driver on basic rules of the road such as you don’t speed, you don’t run red lights and you don’t crash into cars and storefronts?

  12. Roadman

    May 13, 2020 at 3:20 pm

    “The driver looking as he was about to run…..”

    Did he assume a sprinter’s pose before the starting gun goes off?

    If the driver did leave the scene of a property damage accident it would only be a misdemeanor. If there was an actual personal injury in this case it could be prosecuted as a more serious charge. But there is NO indication from the facts reported above that the driver had attempted to leave the accident scene. Additionally the cop onsite made an arrest.

    Maggie Srodek has served as a longtime local school board member.

    Was this an example of legal and reasonable use of a firearm by a private citizen following an auto accident?

    Has the driver been identified? Are any charges pending?

  13. Observer

    May 15, 2020 at 8:17 am

    Don’t go to “Roadman” for legal advice…

    The driver just hit a police officer with a vehicle. Assault on an officer is a felony, not a misdemeanor.

    If someone witnesses a person run a red light, hit a police car, then attempt to flee then they are within their legal rights to use deadly force, as this is a subjective standard. Maggie could have subjectively believed that a person willing to run away from the police after hitting them would be willing to cause imminent death or great bodily harm to her, too.

    Seems to me that there is too much focus on the actions of the responsible citizen and not enough scrutiny on the driver that caused the issue in the first place.

  14. Buff Whelan

    May 15, 2020 at 11:25 am

    What a bunch of RACIST BULLSHIT.

  15. Roadman

    May 15, 2020 at 12:25 pm

    @Observer:

    There is NOTHING in the article that suggests that the motorist intended to strike the police vehicle with his own car.

    Secondly, there is NO evidence that this motorist made any attempt to flee the scene or to injure anyone in any manner.

    Thirdly, fleeing the scene of a motor vehicle accident does not give any police officer – let alone a private citizen the right to point a firearm at another citizen.

    Was she planning to actually fire on him if the motorist did not obey her commands?

    Lastly, the motorist was likely clearly identifiable in that his vehicle remained at the accident scene.

    Why was a Detroit police cruiser in Hamtramck and why would he have handcuffed a suspect outside his jurisdiction? Seems to me that the motorist may have merely been speeding or disobeying a traffic signal.

  16. csercombe

    May 15, 2020 at 12:50 pm

    Detroit police often cut through Hamtramck to get to another part of Detroit. Hamtramck is surrounded on three sides by Detroit. Nothing unusual there.

  17. Roadman

    May 15, 2020 at 7:42 pm

    The Michigan Press Club counsel’s cited opinion is correct.

    “Ongoing investigation” is insufficient grounds to exempt a public body from a FOIA disclosure – there must be a showing of actual prejudice in compromising the investigation iself.

    One federal judge once commented that if merely having an open investigation were sufficient to excuse FOIA compliance, the pubic body only would need to leave an investigation open indefinitely to thwart virtually any FOIA request for documents.

  18. Dennis Nowak

    May 16, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    I would appreciate it – as many local citizens do – if The Review keeps pressing for release of police reports about this incident.

    There are gray areas that need to be looked into – who was the arrested driver, was he injured, was he a Hamtramck resident, was there any proof he may have been drinking?

    Also, was the Detroit officer injured at all?

    There is mention of prosecutorial review. What is the scope of this review? Is it solely the actions of the arrested motorist – or does it extend to the manner in was he was arrested? What agency is conducting the review – Wayne County Prosecutor or our City Attorney, Mr. Allen?

  19. Dennis Nowak

    May 17, 2020 at 8:43 pm

    The Hamtramck Review should ask a CPL class instructor whether he/she feels that the conduct described in this article of the handgun owner is advisable and appropriate.

    Joe Ignaczak in his comment above has a point.

  20. 'Jide Aje

    May 19, 2020 at 1:01 pm

    There are several issues going on here in my opinion:

    First,how prudent were Ms. Srodek’s actions?
    I believe she is a wife and mother with a family that values her.
    In this light, following questions should be asked:
    What if the gentleman she threatened was armed and a better shot?
    What if she fired and hit a bystander, now what?
    What if she shot and injured and killed the gentleman?
    Would she and her family have been prepared for the consequences? Legal, press, protests, threats, etc>
    Does she have any idea as to possible consequences?
    Is she aware of the incident in Georgia?

    The other issue is the question:
    When and if one is actually fearful of something, does one confront it or move away from it?
    I ask this because when armed cops and armed White Americans make this claim in context of African Americans in non threatening situations, no examinations or questions are ever asked.

    Did she ask if he was okay and needed and ambulance?
    How did she get the sense he was about to flee?
    If he fled, was the legal and prudent action to shoot him?
    Did she have her phone on her?
    Would a photograph of the gentleman not sufficed?

    It’s also disturbing (quite) that Karen Majewski the Mayor, praised her on her Facebook page!
    As did her FB friends and family, who I’m sure would feel different if she had been injured or killed in a confrontation she provoked.
    Full disclosure: Mayor is known to me personally, as her husband and I are members of the same organisation.

    Frankly speaking, CCW should actually be for the protection of the life of the carrier in specific situations.
    Nothing more, nothing less.

  21. Roadman

    May 19, 2020 at 6:05 pm

    @’Jide Aje

    Thank you for your observations.

    I would like to point out that there is NOTHING in the facts set forth in the article that suggests that the motorist that struck the Detroit Police vehicle committed ANY criminal offense whatsoever. If he did commit – argubly – careless driving, this is only a civil infraction under the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code.

    The article cites witnesses claiming the motorist was speeding and going through a red light – however we do not have HIS version of events, nor is there any indication – as of yet – of any videotape to verify alleged witnesses reporting onsite. There has been no radar test alleged that confirmed speed being traveled nor how fast it is believed the motorist was travelling at the point of impact.

    I fail to see why the motorist – in dazed condition – would need to be placed in handcuffs. The fact of him being dazed would have been likely due to a concussion he may have sustained in the collision. The fact he was taken by ambulance to a medical hospital confirms his apparent probable injury status.

    There are plenty of fact issues I see in these circumstances that a prosecutor will have to consider when going through the reports. I believe that there have been no charges issued as of yet due to the complexity of the circumstances.

  22. Dennis Nowak

    May 23, 2020 at 5:55 pm

    Are there any updates on the appeal of the FOIA denial?

    Is the incident still under investigation?

    I also am wondering whether the mayor or chief of police has made a public statement regarding this incident.

  23. Roadman

    May 29, 2020 at 1:22 am

    Chip:

    Any response by the city to the FOIA appeal?

    Absent extraordinary circumstances they need to respond to the appeal within ten business days.

  24. csercombe

    May 29, 2020 at 9:40 am

    they are releasing a redacted copy of the incident report. it is still under investigation, they say.

  25. Roadman

    May 29, 2020 at 5:58 pm

    Thanks for the update! Keep us all posted.

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