Duty Death: Myron Jarrett - [Detroit]
End of Service: 28/10/2016
By Jim Schaefer and Elisha Anderson
Detroit Free Press
DETROIT — Detroit Police Officer Myron Jarrett was standing on the street, next to a patrol car, trying to get some information from two other officers who were investigating an accident Friday night. That’s when an engine revved.
A van, speeding toward them, plowed into the patrol car, flinging Jarrett 30 feet. The van then slammed into a second police car and finally, into a civilian vehicle.
Jarrett, suffering multiple injuries, died. Another officer was slightly injured.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig, in a news conference Saturday evening, said the initial investigation indicates the driver of the van, who ran off but was captured Saturday morning, did not intend to hit Jarrett. Craig wouldn’t discuss any other details of the incident, saying the department planned to seek criminal charges on Sunday.
Jarrett was the second Detroit officer killed in the line of duty in recent weeks.
“There’s been way too much sadness in the city lately,’’ Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said at the news conference held in the lobby of the department’s 12th Precinct where Jarrett worked. “It’s just a reminder of the number of different ways that our police officers are in danger every day.”
Duggan noted that he would be leaving the news conference to head out on Saturday night with scores of volunteers to patrol the streets as part of the city’s anti-arson campaign for the Angels’ Night period.
“While we’re out there, those 3,000 volunteers will be thinking about Officer Jarrett, who last night was on these streets protecting us,” Duggan said.
Craig, who said he met earlier with officers who worked with Jarrett, described the 40-year-old married father of four as a public servant who served the city with distinction.
Jarrett loved writing tickets, Craig said. One area that drew his attention was an intersection near a school, where drivers regularly blew the four-way stop signs, Craig said.
“He would make a special effort to go to that intersection and enforce the law,” Craig said.
Even-tempered, Jarrett even tolerated his fellow officers calling him “Salt and Pepper,” after his graying hair, and teasing him about his leather-bound ticket book, which they called his man-purse.
After hearing the tragic news late Friday, Craig said, “a large number of police officers converged on the hospital.”
“His service to the community was important, “ Craig said. “He did make a difference.”
An eight-year veteran of the department, Jarrett and his partner were assisting another unit with a traffic investigation near Puritan and Monica, west of Livernois, on the city’s west side when the crash occurred about 10:30 p.m. Friday, police said.
Steven Guzina was arrested and remains in police custody in connection with the incident, police said. He has not been charged.
Marisa Garcia, who owns Tijuana’s Mexican Kitchen restaurants in Detroit and Lincoln Park, said through a spokesman today that Guzina is her estranged husband, and that she has been cooperating with Detroit police investigators.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the tragic events of Friday night,” reads the statement, which was released by Lawrence Garcia, a Detroit attorney who is no relation.
“Since she first heard about what happened, my client, Marisa Garcia, has been cooperating fully with the authorities relative to their interest in her estranged husband, Steven Guzina. Ms. Garcia has always been a strong supporter of the communities where her restaurants are located — Detroit and Lincoln Park. She and her business associates are confident that our justice system will produce a just result, and although they had no involvement in what happened Friday night, they are sure that the process will get to the truth.”
Jarrett’s partner, who has been on the job about four months, was treated at an area hospital and released Saturday morning, Detroit Police Department spokesman Michael Woody said. Jarrett died of multiple injuries, according to a spokesman with the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Last month, Detroit Police Capt. Kenneth Steil, a 20-year police veteran, died in the line of duty. Steil, who worked on the special-ops team and served on the Detroit Police Underwater Recovery Team, was shot Sept. 12 and died Sept. 17.
“We’re still reeling in the loss of Capt. Steil,” Woody said. “Now here comes the loss of Officer Jarrett. It’s just a lot to take in.”