Man On Life-Support After Punched In Face By Detroit Officer: Lawyer

DETROIT — A 70-year-old man who was punched in the face by a Detroit Police officer in Midtown is on life-support, according to a news release from Fieger Law.

Managing Partner at Fieger Law James Harrington identified the 70-year-old man as Daryl Vance. Harrington said Vance's family hired the law firm and plans to file a lawsuit.

"Vance remains on life support due to the injuries sustained from the police officer's actions," Harrington said. "The way this situation escalated is unconscionable and now a man's life hangs in the balance due to the irresponsible actions of the Detroit Police Department. We are working to obtain all the evidence to get justice for Daryl Vance and will be filing a lawsuit against those responsible."

Detroit Police Chief James White suspended the officer, saying his decision was "influenced by concerns that, at the very least, the officer did not adequately de-escalate or disengage from the situation."

White said officers responded to a Midtown business around 6:30 p.m. Sunday for a disturbance caused by a man in his 70s, who police believe was intoxicated.

When officers arrived at the business, they asked the man to leave the area, but he refused and struck an officer on the head, White said.

The officer then responded by striking the man "in the area of the jaw" that caused the man to fall and hit his head on the ground, White said.

The officer's body camera showed the officer tried numerous times to get the person who police believe caused the disturbance to leave the business, White said.

"In the video, it appears to show the individual strike the officer on the head and the officer responds by striking the individual in the area of the jaw," White said. "This resulted in the individual falling and likely striking his head on the ground."

The Homicide Task Force with Michigan State Police leading the investigation, while the Detroit police Investigation Unit will also conduct an inquiry simultaneously.

White said the investigations will include "a meticulous review of all available video evidence and other pertinent information to ascertain whether the officer's actions were reasonable given the circumstances and proportionate to any potential threat posed by the individual."