Minneapolis, MN
Ex-Minneapolis police officer Brian Cummings to face trial for crash that killed Leneal Frazier
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The case of a former Minneapolis police officer, whose high-speed pursuit of a carjacking suspect led to a crash that killed 40-year-old Leneal Frazer, will go to trial after a choose rejected a movement to dismiss the case.
The protection had urged Decide Tamara Garcia to dismiss the costs of second-degree manslaughter and felony vehicular murder towards former MPD officer Mind Cummings, arguing the Hennepin County Lawyer’s Workplace had pursued the case for political causes.
However in her order denying the protection’s movement, Decide Garcia stated Cumming’s protection workforce had not introduced any proof of a “discriminatory ingredient” within the Hennepin County Lawyer Mike Freeman’s determination to prosecute the case. Her order says the legislation grants prosecutors a excessive diploma of discretion in deciding who to cost and Cummings hadn’t proven he was being prosecuted due to his “race, faith, train of constitutional proper, or some other protected class.”
Decide Garcia then turned to the info of the case as she rejected the argument that Freeman’s determination to prosecute the case was “arbitrary,” noting Cummings was driving at 90-100 mph in a residential space that has a 25 mph velocity restrict as a result of the roads are “narrower, have much less visibility,” and have a tendency to have stoplights in addition to extra visitors.
“The seriousness of the federal government’s allegations – impartial of any statements made by Mr. Freeman –helps the choice favoring prosecution on this case, and the court docket doesn’t discover the choice to be selective or discriminatory,” she wrote.
Leneal Frazier was killed when a Minneapolis police squad automobile struck his Jeep whereas pursuing an armed theft suspect. (Courtesy of the Frazier household / FOX 9)
Frazier was driving west on North forty first Avenue on July 6, 2021, round 12:30 a.m, on his approach to his girlfriend’s home, when Cummings’ squad automobile, pursuing an armed theft suspect northbound on Lyndale Avenue North, collided together with his car within the intersection. Frazier’s automobile was pushed into a close-by bus shelter. Frazier died on the hospital a short while later.
Cummings’ employment with MPD ended the day after he was charged – the town has not specified whether or not he was fired or left the division voluntarily.
The case will now go to trial on Sept. 19.