Ex-Minneapolis Cop Pleads Guilty To Criminal Vehicular Homicide

MINNEAPOLIS — Former Minneapolis police officer Brian Cummings pled guilty to criminal vehicular homicide Thursday.

Cummings, 39, was charged for his role in a high-speed police chase through a residential neighborhood that ended when his squad car hit and killed a bystander, 40-year-old Leneal Frazier.

Frazier was the uncle of Darnella Frazier, the woman who won an honorary Pulitzer Prize for filming the murder of George Floyd on her cell phone.

Cummings is the first former Minneapolis officer to be convicted of a crime since Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murder in Floyd's death.

"My thoughts are with Leneal Frazier’s family as they process this admission of guilt and this step toward accountability," Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a news release.

"The reckless driving conduct admitted today is not representative of the many men and women in law enforcement who act and drive responsibly with respect for the safety of our community members. We will have more to say after Mr. Frazier’s family has an opportunity to speak about the impact of their loss at sentencing."

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 22. Under Cummings' plea deal, he will be placed on probation and will serve up to one year in the Hennepin County Adult Corrections Facility.

According to the criminal complaint, on July 6 around 12:30 a.m., Cummings spotted a Kia Sportage matching the description of a stolen vehicle suspected to be involved in several thefts.

Cummings tried to pull over the car, but the Kia sped off, authorities said. Cummings pursued the vehicle in his marked squad car with sirens and lights activated, the complaint states.

The chase continued for more than 20 blocks through North Minneapolis, including residential neighborhoods.

Cumming chased the Kia nearly 100 mph at times, authorities said. The officer was driving 90 mph as he approached the intersection of 41st Avenue North and Lyndale Avenue North, where the speed limit is 25 mph, according to investigators.

At that speed, it takes about 337 feet to come to a complete stop, the criminal complaint states.

Frazier’s Jeep entered 41st Avenue North and Lyndale Avenue North, where a green light gave him the right of way, authorities said.

Both the Kia and Cummings face a red light, and the Kia nearly missing Frazier's Jeep going 100 mph, the criminal complaint states.

Cummings’ squad car — going about 78 mph —collided with Frazier’s Jeep on the driver’s side at the intersection, according to investigators. Frazier was going 25 mph, authorities said.

Frazier died at the scene.

An accident reconstruction team concluded that "This collision can be attributed to the Defendant for failure to operate his vehicle with due regard for the safety of other motorists."