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Off-Duty Dearborn Police Officer Fatally Shoots Man After Chase

DEARBORN (WWJ/AP) - An investigation is underway after an off-duty Dearborn police officer shot and killed a man.

The shooting happened following a foot pursuit in the 8,000-block of Whitcomb Ave., near Tireman and Greenfield, at the Detroit-Dearborn border.

According to Detroit Police Chief James Craig, the off-duty Dearborn cop spotted a man whom he recognized as a suspect wanted on misdemeanor probation violation in Redford Township.

Craig told The Associated Press that the officer's uniform was torn during the struggle Wednesday and equipment was off his belt. Dearborn police Chief Ron Haddad declined to talk about the officer, including his time in the suburban department.

"We verified that there was a struggled. At some point the officer fired shots striking the victim - the victim is a 34-year-old male, he did die from his injuries," said Detroit Police Sgt. Cassanddra Lewis.

The suspect took off running and the officer chased him into a backyard where a "physical altercation" ensued.  That's when, police said, the officer fired shots, and the suspect — identified as a 34-year-old Kevin Matthews — was killed.

Matthews suffered from mental problems says his mother Valerie Johnson but told WWJ that her son was not violent.

"No, because if they wanted to arrest him he would have got in the car. Got in the car and call me collect to tell me where he was at." That's what he always did, said his mom, who said he had misdemeanors and was not confrontational.

"He was not capable of hurting no one, that's the truth, he didn't hurt nobody, he wouldn't hurt nobody, he wouldn't hurt nobody," said his cousin Joy Green, through tears.

The officer was taken to a local hospital, but it was not immediately clear how was injured. Craig said that at this time he does not know if the suspect was armed.

Reports say the shooting occurred as the two struggled over the officer's gun, but that detail was not immediately confirmed by police.

Michigan State Police and Detroit police are investigating.

Dearborn Police Chief Haddad says the shooting is extremely tragic and he offered condolences to the victim's family.

Meantime, Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality spokesman Ken Reed said they're looking into what happened and why.

"We remain vigilant about these shootings, and will withhold any other statements until our investigators have completed a fact-finding," said Reed. "We want to make sure that proper procedures were followed, and will continue to monitor Dearborn and Detroit police departments relative to this incident."

 

TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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