An Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot a Pontiac man reportedly attempting to flee after being awakened in his car is being sued in a wrongful death complaint from the dead man’s mother.
The lawsuit, filed Feb. 23 in U.S. District Court-Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of Karyonda Vance — who represents the estate of her son, Jaquan Fletcher — also names the County of Oakland. A jury trial is demanded, and compensation for damages as well as court costs and legal fees are sought.
The complaint alleges violations of the 4th, 5th and 14th amendments, along with gross negligence, assault and battery, use of excessive, unreasonable and unlawful force, and conduct resulting in the wrongful death of Jaquan Fletcher.
Fletcher, 32, died on Aug. 18, 2023 after a bullet reportedly fired by sheriff’s deputy James Richardson struck him in the head while he was allegedly attempting to drive away from Richardson and another deputy after he was awakened. Fletcher had reportedly been asleep in his car — with the headlights on and engine running — after attending a party, when approached by the two deputies. The other deputy — not named in the lawsuit — reportedly spotted a handgun on the floor of Fletcher’s car, put it on the roof of the vehicle and roused Fletcher while putting one of his arms behind his back. He ordered Fletcher to put his other arm behind his back, but with Fletcher not complying, Richardson reportedly went to the passenger side of the vehicle “in an apartment attempt to gain compliance,” the lawsuit states.
As Fletcher put his car into gear, Richardson reportedly told him to stop, but Fletcher drove off anyway. In doing so, the lawsuit states, Fletcher “did not verbally or physically threaten either officer nor engage in any conduct which was intended to attack or threaten the safety of either officer or anyone else.”
Richardson then reportedly fired a shot, hitting Fletcher in the head and killing him.
The “use of deadly force was not reasonable, warranted, necessary, or lawful,” the complaint states.
Summonses have been issued for the County of Oakland and Richardson.
Sheriff: Deputy dragged by car before firing shot
As previously reported by The Oakland Press, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the two deputies came upon Fletcher when responding to a report of a car blocking a driveway, shortly before 6 a.m. on Aug. 18, 2023. After removing the handgun from the car, one deputy ordered Fletcher to put his hands behind his back while the other, who’s since been identified as Richardson, was watching him from the passenger side with the door open. Richardson was reportedly partially inside the car when Fletcher began to struggle, put the car in gear and hit the accelerator, dragging Richardson before crashing into a patrol car, a curb and a street sign. That’s when the shot was fired, the sheriff’s office said. The deputy was injured and transported to an area hospital for treatment, the sheriff’s office said.
An investigation revealed that the confiscated handgun, a .45 caliber Glock with an extended magazine loaded with 17 rounds, was reported as stolen in Atlanta. Fletcher was on parole at the time of his death, barred from owning or possessing firearms. His criminal history dated back to 2006, including multiple felony convictions.
According to his obituary, Fletcher was the father of six children. Two live in Sterling Heights, two in Waterford Township, and one each in White Lake Township and Detroit.
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