No charges for Decatur police in high school football player's death after chase

No charges for Decatur police in high school football player’s death after chase

Decatur police officers who pursued an Alabama high school football player who died after wrecking his vehicle in September will not face charges after a grand jury reportedly declined to indict the officers.

The Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office told WAFF on Monday the grand jury determined the three officers should not face charges in the death of 16-year-old Jaiden DeJarnett.

One of the officers involved in chasing Jaiden was also involved in the shooting death of Steve Perkins, according to WAFF. The officer was fired in conection with Perkins’ death.

Jaiden, a football player from Sparkman High School in Harvest, died in a Sept. 4 accident when the car he was driving went off the road, hit a tree, and caught fire as he fled two police officers who pursued him across two north Alabama counties.

Jaiden’s family questioned the events that led to the teen’s death and requested dash cam video of the incident.

Jaiden died after wrecking his vehicle on Lawrence County Road 270 in Courtland, Lawrence County Coroner Scott Norwood told AL.com at the time.

Police tried to stop a Mazda four-door sedan Jaiden was driving near Beltline Road Southwest and Danville Road around 2:40 a.m. Sept. 4 for a traffic violation, Decatur police said.

“The driver failed to stop and led officers on a pursuit into Lawrence County,” Decatur police said in a statement. “During the pursuit, the driver lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree. The driver was pronounced deceased on scene.”