Family Deonta Griffin Plans to Sue 3 Police Departments Claiming High-Speed Chase Caused Death

The family of Deonta Markey Griffin of Montgomery Alabama is suing the cities of Guntersville, Albertville and Boaz after, according to the family, a high-speed police chase lead to the death of the man.

According to authorities, Boaz officers went to serve a warrant on Griffin the morning of January 5^th for failure to appear in court on a domestic violence charge. He was not home but officers later saw him driving and attempted to stop him. Griffin refused to stop his car, authorities said. The chase continued through Albertville and into Guntersville, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph.

The family’s attorney, Mark Overall says a wrongful death suit will be filed in a little over a month against the police departments and also individual officers involved in the incident. According to Overall,

Deonta was assaulted by police in November or December of 2012 and he was afraid for his life. That’s why he drove away… Once the chase ended, (officers) either sicced dogs on him or made an advance toward him that compelled or forced him off the bridge.

The attorney would like to review the police tape of the incident and also an onlookers video of the incident to further build his case.

After the incident happened, the body was missing for 4 months, leaving the victim’s family searching for him.  According to AL.com:

Griffin, 20, was the father of a young son and his family started a Facebook page to draw attention to the case when his body was still missing called “Search for Deonta Markey Griffin.” The page announced a meeting to be held earlier this month at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church to support the family’s quest for answers. The family also has posted fliers asking for anyone with information about the chase to come forward.

Griffin’s body was found in Lake Guntersville in April, four months after he leapt from the bridge. The suit will seek unspecified damages.