STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN — An off-duty Detroit police officer, identified as 35-year-old Yolanda Miree, has been arrested on suspicion of operating while impaired after allegedly driving the wrong way, crashing into a 17-year-old driver at Metropolitan Parkway and Van Dyke around 11:46 p.m. on April 10, and then fleeing the scene, with officers later tracking her vehicle to a Sterling Heights home where she was taken into custody and booked into Macomb County Jail pending blood test results.
Off-Duty Officer Caught on Video Driving Wrong Way Before Crash at Metropolitan Parkway and Van Dyke
New video obtained by Metro Detroit News shows Miree driving the wrong way in the moments leading up to the crash. The incident took place around 11:46 p.m. on April 10 at the intersection of Metropolitan Parkway and Van Dyke in Sterling Heights.
Investigators say a 17-year-old driver was heading east on Metropolitan Parkway with a green light when a northbound driver turned directly into his path. That northbound driver, according to authorities, was Miree. The collision was a direct result of her traveling in the wrong direction into the path of an oncoming vehicle that had the legal right of way.
Teen Driver Lost Control and Struck Fire Hydrant After Impact With Officer’s Vehicle
The force of the collision caused the 17-year-old driver to lose control of his vehicle following the impact. His car struck a fire hydrant as a result of the crash, bringing it to a stop after the collision with Miree’s vehicle.
No injuries were reported in connection with the crash, despite the severity of the impact and the teen driver striking the fire hydrant. While the physical outcome was fortunate, the circumstances surrounding how the crash occurred have drawn serious scrutiny given that the other driver was an active member of the Detroit Police Department.
Off-Duty Officer Fled the Scene After the Crash
Rather than stopping to render aid or remain at the scene as required by law, Miree fled immediately following the collision. The decision to leave the scene of an accident she had caused added a further layer of criminal exposure to what was already a serious situation involving an allegedly impaired off-duty law enforcement officer.
The teen driver was left at the scene following the crash, and responding officers began working to identify and locate the vehicle that had fled. The fact that Miree drove away from a crash she caused while allegedly impaired and while holding the position of a sworn police officer has been central to the public and departmental response to the incident.
Officers Tracked Vehicle to Sterling Heights Home Where Miree Was Taken Into Custody
Following the crash and Miree’s departure from the scene, officers worked to track her vehicle. They successfully located the car at a Sterling Heights home, where they found the damaged vehicle and made contact with Miree directly.
She was arrested on suspicion of operating while impaired and subsequently booked into the Macomb County Jail. She remains there pending the results of a blood test, which will be used to determine her level of impairment at the time of the crash. The damaged condition of the vehicle at the home was consistent with the collision that had taken place earlier that night.
Detroit Police Internal Affairs Launches Administrative Investigation as Officer Placed on Administrative Duty
The Detroit Police Department responded publicly to the incident, stating that the conduct involved is not in line with the department’s core values. Internal Affairs has opened an administrative investigation into Miree’s actions, and she has been placed on administrative duty while that investigation proceeds.
The department indicated it will ensure the officer is held accountable as the process moves forward. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing on both the criminal and administrative fronts as authorities work through the full scope of what occurred on the night of April 10 in Sterling Heights. Stay with GordonRamsayClub.com for the latest news updates and detailed coverage.
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