Phoenix Copwatch
Home | Contact

  Original Article

Relatives of man killed in police pursuit plan suit
Family seeking $3 million from Scottsdale

Michael Ferraresi The Arizona Republic Oct. 4, 2005 12:00 AM

SCOTTSDALE - More than five months have passed since 22-year-old Cody Brett Morrison was struck and killed by a wrong-way driver during a Scottsdale police pursuit on Loop 101.

An internal investigation and review of Scottsdale's police pursuit policy continue.

But the city is feeling the repercussions of the chase.

The Morrison family has filed a legal notice, claiming as much as $3 million from the city and alleging that Scottsdale officers are at fault in the "unwarranted and reckless" April 7 chase that killed Morrison.

The results of Scottsdale's internal investigation, including possible disciplinary actions against the officers involved, could be announced this week, Scottsdale police Detective Sam Bailey said.

The Scottsdale police pursuit policy was last revised in February. The policy requires supervising officers to end pursuits immediately when suspects drive the wrong way on freeways.

A notice of claim is required under certain conditions before the filing of a lawsuit.

Scottsdale Officers Carrie Candler and Aaron Crawford, Lt. Todd Muilenberg, and Sgts. Dan Rincon and Rob Ryan are named in the notice.

Morrison was killed in a collision with a vehicle driven by David Syzmanski after Scottsdale police followed Syzmanski onto the freeway following a violent incident at the apartment of Syzmanski's former girlfriend.

Syzmanski, 22, of Fountain Hills, is charged with first-degree murder and could be the first person in Arizona to face the death penalty for a DUI-related traffic fatality.

Reach the reporter at michael.ferraresi@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-6843.