The family of a man who died while fleeing police in northwest Indiana in an allegedly stolen U-Haul has demanded body camera video and related communications from responding officers.
Larry Perry, 34, was killed Feb. 21 after Hammond Police Department officers chased him into Chicago and drove his vehicle into the Little Calumet River, family members said.
The family is preparing to file a lawsuit against Hammond police in Cook County, where Perry died, the family’s attorney said Friday. At a news conference, the family’s lawyer said they still don’t have autopsy results or his clothes.
“We don’t even know why he fled. If we had a body camera, we could see if they were using tactics to make him fear for his life,” said family attorney Cierra N. Norris.
Attorneys for the family claim the pursuit violated Hammond Police Department policies and procedures.
The family’s attorneys allege that Hammond police officers engaged in willful and wanton conduct and endangered the general public by continuing a risky pursuit with a non-violent perpetrator.
According to the Chicago Fire Department the U-Haul entered the Little Calumet River near 130th Street and Indiana Avenue around 4:22 a.m. on February 21
Hammond police said officers received an alert around 4:10 a.m. of the stolen U-Haul within the city limits near 136th and Sheffield Avenue, where a vehicle matching the description of the stolen U-Haul was found.
While attempting to restrain the vehicle, officers turned on their emergency lights and sirens. However, the suspect did not comply and fled the scene, police said.
The U-Haul was traveling about 30 miles per hour and led officers through 130th and Indiana Avenue. As the truck approached a bend in the road, it failed to turn, causing it to go over the edge and into the Little Calumet River.
Police say the driver, identified by family as Perry, exited the U-Haul and tried to evade arrest by swimming away. Officers then entered the river to attempt a rescue, but were unable to locate the suspect after he submerged.
CFD responded and recovered the suspect’s body from the river. Paramedics took Perry to Christ Hospital in serious condition and he died.
Hammond police also confirmed that a female passenger was in the U-Haul at the beginning of the chase, but jumped out of the vehicle during the chase.
Police said they have active arrest warrants related to cocaine possession.
