Overview
- The crash, which occurred on Sept. 30, 2024, killed Cedric Hayden Jr. and DeJuan Pettis after a Warren patrol SUV struck their SUV while responding to a Flock camera stolen-vehicle alert.
- Prosecutors say Burke drove the cruiser at about 114–117 mph without activating lights or siren before the impact, a claim supported by dashcam evidence and a county crash investigator's speed estimate.
- Defense lawyers argue Hayden's .198 blood-alcohol level and an alleged illegal left turn caused the collision, citing the medical examiner's toxicology and scene testimony.
- Burke's partner, Officer Michael Rodolfo, testified that the cruiser reached high speeds, that lights and siren were not on because officers sometimes avoid alerting suspects, and that he would still ride with Burke.
- The trial, expected to last several weeks with roughly 50 witnesses, probes whether officers followed Warren Police policies on pursuits and could shape how courts and departments treat high-speed responses.