Search fatalities

Clifford Woodards II

Gender : Male

Age : 58

Race : Black

Date : 02/08/2021

Location : Jeffries Service Drive and W. Chicago

City : Detroit

County : Wayne

State : Michigan

Agency : Detroit Police Department

Officer(s) :TeairaFunderburg

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police vehicle crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 02/08/2021, at approximately 1 a.m., officers from the Detroit Police Department were responding to a request for backup with their lights and sirens activated in a marked Ford Explorer traveling east on Jeffries Service Drive. The police vehicle collided with a Lexus IS 250 driven by Clifford Woodards II at the intersection of Jeffries Service Drive and W. Chicago in Detroit, killing bystander Woordards. The officer driving, TeairaFunderburg, was later charged with involuntary manslaughter and willful neglect of duty following the investigation, which revealed she was traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at a red light. Woodards, a prominent defense attorney and civil rights activist, was known for his sharp wit and community involvement. His daughter, Melissa Connelly, filed a $50 million lawsuit against the city of Detroit, alleging negligence and seeking justice for her father's death. The lawsuit highlighted that Funderburg had a history of speeding and traffic violations. Woodards was driving lawfully at the time of the crash, within the speed limit and with the right of way. The impact caused Woodards' vehicle to flip over and crash into a light pole. Officer Funderburgwas suspended without pay.In August 2022, Funderburg pleaded no contest to willful neglect of duty as part of a plea agreement, leading to the dismissal of the involuntary manslaughter charge. As a condition of the plea, she agreed to resign her Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) certification, effectively ending her career as a police officer. She was sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service.

.

TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES DURING THIS POLICE ENCOUNTER: 1 fatality

.

Last Update: 12/26/2024

.

SOURCE LINKS :

1. https://www.wxyz.com/news/50m-lawsuit-filed-against-city-of-detroit-after-lawyer-killed-in-crash-involving-officer
2. https://www.metrotimes.com/news/prominent-defense-attorney-killed-in-car-crash-with-detroit-police-26411187
3. https://www.crainsdetroit.com/law/attorney-cliff-woodards-dies-crash-police-vehicle
4. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2021/02/09/judges-remember-detroit-attorney-cliff-woodard-killed-in-vehicle-crash/
5. https://www.metrotimes.com/news/ex-detroit-cop-will-serve-probation-for-killing-attorney-cliff-woodards-in-a-car-crash-30832112
6. https://www.wxyz.com/news/he-was-committed-to-the-community-loved-ones-mourn-loss-of-detroit-attorney-killed-in-police-involved-crash
7. https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/1-dead-multiple-police-officers-hospitalized-after-traffic-crash-in-detroit
8. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2021/02/09/community-mourns-defense-attorney-killed-in-crash-involving-detroit-police-cruiser/
9. https://www.michigannewssource.com/2022/10/ex-detroit-cop-sentenced-to-probation-in-crash-that-killed-lawyer/
10. https://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/27304/attorney_cliff_woodards_killed_in_car_crash_in_detroit
11. https://patch.com/michigan/detroit/detroit-officer-charged-crash-killed-local-attorney