DETROIT – The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of law enforcement, effectively dismissing a lawsuit claiming negligence related to the 2020 death of a woman while in police custody in the suburban area of Detroit.
The court determined that there was insufficient evidence for a jury to decide if the officers from Harper Woods and their civilian aides acted with “gross negligence” by failing to provide medical assistance to Priscilla Slater. This ruling, issued on Tuesday, overturned an earlier judgment made by a Wayne County judge.
The court noted that the outcome could have been different if there had been clear indications that Slater requested medical help and was denied, or if she had indicated that she was not feeling well when questioned, or if she showed distinct physical signs of distress that were overlooked by the officers.
In June 2020, Slater, aged 37, and her boyfriend were taken into custody following a disturbance at a motel that included gunfire.
It is acknowledged that Slater had ingested a large quantity of alcohol before her arrest. She tragically passed away from natural causes approximately 36 hours later while in a Harper Woods detention center. An autopsy revealed that one of her heart valves had an abnormal shape.
An independent expert informed prosecutors that withdrawal from alcohol could potentially have played a role in her death.
Slater’s demise sparked significant controversy within Harper Woods, leading to protests where city officials were accused of being evasive regarding information about the incident. As a result, two police officers were terminated after the city claimed they misled state investigators examining the events surrounding the case.
Additionally, following these events, the mayor resigned after making a controversial comment suggesting he understood why some white individuals might turn to white supremacy, a statement interpreted as a reaction to protests led by members of the Black community. Notably, Slater herself was Black.
In 2021, nearly a year after her passing, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced that no criminal charges would be pursued against the police officers from Harper Woods.