PONTIAC, Mich. (WXYZ) — The Oakland County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a deputy shot and killed a man during an early morning incident in Pontiac Friday.
The incident began shortly after 5:45 a.m. when deputies were dispatched to N. Roselawn and Maines on a call to investigate an unknown vehicle blocking a driveway. About 10 minutes later, they arrived on the scene to find the parked vehicle was running with a driver sleeping inside.
The deputies say they approached the car on either side and attempted to make contact with the driver but were unsuccessful. Investigators say that's when the deputy on the driver's side opened the unlocked door to wake up the driver and saw a gun next to him.
The deputy removed the gun and placed it on the roof of the car, telling the driver to place his hands behind his back. The deputies say the driver refused.
That's when the deputy on the passenger side opened the door to help and watch the driver. Officials say the deputy partially entered the car to assist as the suspect was resisting and not following directions. The driver then put the car into gear and took off crashing into the patrol car, a curb and then a street sign. Sheriff Mike Bouchard says this all happened as the deputy on the passenger side was hanging out of the car.
The deputy fired a single shot bringing the driver to a stop.
EMS was called to take the driver to the hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. The deputy was also taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Family members of the driver returned to the scene Friday. They identified the driver as 32-year-old Jaquan Fletcher. They say he was a father of five children that he loved very much.
7 Action News asked Bouchard about the department's policy for opening car doors during stops.
"Understand that the call came from the property owner that (the car) was in front of their house and had been blocking their driveway, so obviously we're going to make contact with that person. If they're not responsive, we don't know whether they're alive, if they're having a medical situation, so obviously we do everything we can to make contact with that person," Bouchard said.
Investigators say they later learned the Glock .45 caliber seen inside the car was a stolen firearm out of Atlanta.
The deputy who fired the shot is now on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. Bouchard says there was body camera footage of the incident, which they are working to review. It's unclear if or when that video will be released to the public.
Bouchard says the suspect was paroled on June 21, 2023, with his parole running until September 2024. Under the conditions of his parole, the suspect was prohibited from possessing a firearm. However, deputies were not aware of this before making the stop.
The investigation is ongoing.
