Jackson ordered to pay $700K - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Jackson ordered to pay $700K

By  Wendy Suares - bio | email | twitter

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - A judge has ruled the city of Jackson must pay up for causing a car crash in August 2001.  A Texas woman was killed in a collision with a teenager who was trying to get away from police.

53 year old Margaret Stephens was in the back of an SUV when it was struck by a stolen car at Bailey Avenue and Maple Street.  The car was driven by 16 year old Lamarcus Butler.  A teenage passenger in the car also later died from his injuries.

Police had been chasing the car, after trying to pull them over for not having headlights on, which is a misdemeanor offense.

Stephens' relatives in Jackson filed a wrongful death suit against the city. And in a ruling handed down February 5th, Circuit Court Judge Winston Kidd ordered the city of Jackson to pay the family $700,000. 

In the ruling, Judge Kidd says JPD officer Gregory Jackson acted with reckless disregard to department policies, ultimately causing Stephens' death.

The high speed chase lasted nearly 2 miles, with the suspect and officer running numerous traffic signals. The officer continued the pursuit even after his superior told him to stop.

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