17-year-old charged with murder after Warren police chase ends in deadly crash

A 17-year-old accused of leading Warren police on a chase that ended in a deadly crash near the Warren-Detroit border last week has been charged with felony murder. 

Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido announced Wednesday that the teen, Deyarin Jamire Marsh, who is being charged as an adult, is facing charges of felony murder, second-degree murder, first-degree fleeing and eluding causing death, leaving the scene of an accident-causing death, receiving and concealing a motor vehicle, burglary tools and possession with intent to steal a motor vehicle, and resisting and obstructing an officer. 

According to Warren police, officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Ram near Fairfield and Georgiana streets around 2 a.m. on June 18, after seeing that several occupants in the truck were wearing ski masks. Police say the truck was reported stolen out of the Grosse Pointe area. 

Police say the driver did not stop and fled from officers, driving southbound on Schoenherr Road toward 8 Mile Road. When the driver reached the intersection of 8 Mile and Schoenherr, authorities say the driver disregarded a red light and struck another vehicle, which was stopped at the intersection and occupied by a 48-year-old Remions Washington of Detroit. 

The driver of the other vehicle was taken to a local hospital, where he later died. Police say the man pulled over to the right lane to let emergency vehicles pass when his car was struck by the truck.  

After the crash, the five occupants of the Ram, who police say range in age from 11 to 17 years old, ran away from the scene. Police arrested four of the occupants on June 18, and the fifth juvenile was arrested earlier this week.

"We must hold individuals accountable when their choices break the law, and they flee from authorities, and it leads to such devastating consequences," Warren Police Commissioner Eric Hawkins said.   

Police believe the suspects are responsible for as many as 15 vehicle-related crimes, including attempted vehicle thefts and thefts, in southeast Warren over a 48-hour period last week during the overnight hours. 

Hawkins said police have tied the suspects to most, if not all, of the thefts that occurred during that period and, in all likelihood, to several more thefts that occurred earlier in the city and in other jurisdictions. 

"I have never seen this many crimes where people just have disrespected and disregarded the law," Lucido said. "Why even have a law on the books if you're not going to enforce it?"  

Two 15-year-olds, a 14-year-old, and an 11-year-old have also been charged with receiving and concealing a motor vehicle, burglary tools-possession with intent to steal a motor vehicle, and resisting and obstructing an officer. All are charged as juveniles. 

Marsh was arraigned Wednesday afternoon. A judge issued a not guilty plea on his behalf and ordered that he be held without bond at the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center. 

He is due back in court on July 7 for a probable cause conference, with a preliminary examination set for July 14. 

Victim's family speaks out 

The family of the victim, 48-year-old Remions Washington, said he was getting off work from an afternoon shift and was just a few minutes from arriving home when the crash happened. 

"I won't be able to see my brother no more," said Shachetra Washigton, Remions Washington's sister. "Their (suspect's) family can go visit them."   

"Our condolences go out to the family," Hawkins said. "This is a tragedy. None of us want to see this happen."

Lucido says that since incidents involving people fleeing from police are on the rise, he's calling for Michigan lawmakers to do something about it. 

"I think that that discussion should be taken up in the Senate immediately," he said. "When drunk driving here is a more severe penalty than fleeing and eluding, it's time to reevaluate that law."

Washington's family is questioning whether the police chase was necessary, but they also believe the parents of the suspects should be held responsible. 

"How do you not know where your kids are at this time of night," questioned Shachetra Washigton. "The parents are responsible as well."