DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — Reggie McKenzie and his family say they should be celebrating Jaiden DeJarnett’s football career and what would have been his graduation year from Sparkman High School. Instead, they’re grieving.
“These last two years have been tough trying to understand what happened, why it happened, and how it happened. So, we decided to pursue that because we need the truth,” McKenzie said.
McKenzie filed a wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit against the City of Decatur, Former Mayor Tab Bowling, and several Decatur Police Officers, including Former Police Chief Todd Pinion and Former Officer Mac Marquette.
“Nothing can make this family whole. We can’t bring Jaiden back. No amount of money,” McKenzie said. “But I think an impact on the city to let them know that this should not happen to anybody else.”
He said police attempted to stop Jaiden because his headlights were out. Authorities said that instead of pulling over, Jaiden continued driving, and Decatur officers chased him for 40 minutes, hitting speeds up to 135 miles per hour, throughout multiple counties.
Authorities said Jaiden lost control of the car, hit a tree and died.
McKenzie said Jaiden just got his license a couple of months before, and believes Jaiden panicked.
“We think that he was afraid of, not only being in trouble, but afraid for his life, and didn’t know what was going to happen,” McKenzie said. “And should he have stopped? Yes. But there were some adults that should’ve made different decisions as well.”
McKenzie said the family confronts the fact that Jaiden is no longer with them daily. He told News 19 that Jaiden had a heart of gold and lit up every room he went into.
“We just loved him, cherished him. And he was jolly. Had that smile that was contagious, even from birth all the way up to his death,” McKenzie said.
Stanley Stallworth, the family’s attorney, said the officers’ behavior violated the Decatur Police Department’s chase policy and Jaiden’s Constitutional rights.
“Their interim policy clearly states that they will not initiate a chase unless a felony is occurring or this person has clearly endangered the public,” Stallworth said. “And, at the outset of this case, neither of those was present.”
Stallworth said he is hopeful this lawsuit will prevent a situation like this from ever happening again, even though it cannot bring Jaiden back.
In a statement to News 19, the City of Decatur said it is aware of the lawsuit and does not comment on pending litigation.
Stallworth said no action has been taken since the lawsuit was filed on Aug. 7.
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