Prosecutor: Driver High on Crack when He Hit and Killed Detroit Officer

A 54-year-old Lincoln Park (MI) man was high on crack cocaine when his Dodge van struck Detroit Police Officer Myron Jarrett on Friday night, killing the officer as he investigated a separate traffic crash, an assistant prosecutor said Monday at the arraignment.

Steven Guzina, 54, who Detroit police said fled on foot after hitting the officer and two other cars, was given no bond when he was arraigned before 36th District Court Magistrate Bari Blake Wood on five felony charges, including second-degree murder and driving while intoxicated.

Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Molly Kettler said prior to the fatal crash, Guzina stopped at multiple places in his van, purchasing and smoking crack. His 43-year-old female passenger reportedly told Guzina multiple times to slow down before he struck Jarrett, throwing him 30 feet through the air, then struck a police car and a civilian vehicle.

The 40-year-old police officer was on duty that evening, helping with an  investigation at Puritan and Monica, when he was hit, the Detroit Free Press reports.