Family of teen hit by deputy: ‘No reason’ video isn’t out
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The family of a 17-year-old who was struck by a Kent County deputy’s cruiser while fleeing from an active scene said they’ve been disappointed with the lack of communication from the sheriff’s office.
“They haven’t contacted us. They haven’t gone out of their way to send (a statement) to us. Getting something like that from them would be nicer,” said Nathan Doggett, the brother of 17-year-old Riley’s Doggett.
The sheriff’s office said in a statement Tuesday that Riley Doggett was “unintentionally struck” by the cruiser and went on to say it was “a direct result of the inherent risk accompanying the serious criminal activity that Riley was engaged in during the weeks and months leading up to this incident.”
Deputies: Car chase suspect hit by sheriff’s cruiser
The Kent County Sheriff’s Office said it’s still an open investigation.
“If it was unintentional then there should be no reason with releasing the video, or at least letting the family see the video because we acknowledge the circumstances that it was in. We acknowledge Riley is not a perfect little boy,” said Taylor Daniels, Riley Doggett’s sister.
Doggett’s family is asking for KCSO to be more transparent.
“We want to see that it was done unintentionally, but them not saying anything, them not reaching out to the family makes it seem like, what are you hiding?” Daniels said.
State police records show Doggett was 16 when he was charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon and property destruction in September 2022 in Grand Rapids. In May 2023, when he was still 16, he was charged with felony assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer involving the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. He was a juvenile at the time, so the outcomes of those cases aren’t available in public court records.
His family said Riley Doggett’s past should have no bearing on this case.
“To me Riley could have the longest rap sheet of the world and that does not mean that he deserved to die or be facing death,” said Daniels.
“At all. It’s not OK. It’s just not normal,” said Nathan Doggett.
“That is the part I want to put emphasis on,” Daniels added.
Kent County deputies previously said that on April 8, they tried to pull over a stolen vehicle that they said was connected to other crimes. The vehicle ran off the road and crashed into a used car lot near 32nd Street and Division, deputies said. The driver was arrested.
“They did the right thing, arrested him. But ran over Riley,” said Nathan Doggett.
News 8 obtained surveillance video from a nearby business showing the passenger getting out of the vehicle. Doggett’s family said he was the passenger and was hit by the cruiser minutes later.
“We all have our own view on things. We all can make assumptions. We all can say this or that. Everyone who knows Riley is saying, ‘Riley is a good kid. Riley is this, Riley is that,’ and then there is the Kent County Sheriff’s Office who are saying, ‘This is his record.’ That does not define who he is. It also shouldn’t define the consequence he got at all,” said Daniels.
Family looks for answers after 17-year-old hit by sheriff’s vehicle
The family wants the investigation to speak for itself.
“Let the family see the video and determine that. We are not afraid to say Riley was wrong.”
Community members are coming together to support Doggett’s family and the family of Samuel Sterling, a 25-year-old who was hit and killed by an unmarked Michigan State Police cruiser in Kentwood on April 17.
“When you look at these two cases with Riley and with Samuel Sterling what you have here is young people running away from the police with no weapon and officers weaponizing their car … in this case, the family is hoping the sheriff’s office is telling the truth. They haven’t made a judgment. They’re waiting,” said Former Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack.
Riley Doggett’s condition remains dire.
“They’ve told our family that he’s not going to recover. That he won’t walk, he won’t talk, he won’t eat, he won’t use the bathroom,” Daniels explained during a prayer vigil Monday night.
The family said they are thankful to the community and ask for continued prayers for his recovery.
The investigation into this case is ongoing while the family is still calling for the dash and body camera video to be released.
News 8 asked the sheriff’s office to elaborate on its statement regarding Doggett’s alleged activities leading up to the encounter, but the agency refused to do so, citing an open investigation by Michigan State Police.
“We too are praying for Riley’s recovery. Although it is tragic when a young life is impacted, it’s important to understand this pursuit started when a stolen vehicle was observed ramming an uninvolved car, jeopardizing the safety of our entire community. These behaviors put an emotional and physical strain on our community’s victims and deputies. This is still an open investigation; however, KCSO needs to clarify that Riley was unintentionally struck by a police cruiser. This incident is a direct result of the inherent risk accompanying the serious criminal activity that Riley was engaged in during the weeks and months leading up to this incident.
“The safety of our community is our primary mission. We will continue to safeguard it. This department is committed to the highest degree of professionalism, and we are dedicated to serving our community and supporting our deputies.”
Kent County Sheriff’s Office
A GoFundMe account has been created asking people to “Donate to Help with Riley’s medical and family needs.”
—News 8’s Susan Samples contributed to this report.
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