Community members express anger over teen’s traffic stop death after officer faces no charges

Community members voiced their concerns during a city commission meeting in Boynton Beach, Florida, on Tuesday evening after an investigation into the death of a 13-year-old boy, who died after his dirt bike crashed during an attempted traffic stop, determined that the officer will not face any changes.

Stanley Davis III, known as “SJ” to his family and friends, died on Dec. 26, 2021, after he lost control of his dirt bike and crashed into a curb while being pursued by a Boynton Beach police officer.

Under Florida law, a dirt bike is considered an “off-highway vehicle” and the operator of such a vehicle must be at least 16 years old.

According to the investigation report released by Florida Highway Patrol on March 31, the “investigation is complete, and no charges shall be filed because the at-fault person expired as a result of the crash.”

The report found that the crash occurred while Davis was traveling at approximately 85 miles per hour while “unlawfully fleeing an attempted traffic stop,” the Boynton Beach Police Department said in a statement.

“Now that the FHP traffic homicide investigation is completed, the Boynton Beach Police Department will conduct an internal affairs investigation to determine if any police department policies were violated by any Boynton Beach law enforcement officer involved in the incident,” Boynton Beach Police said in a statement.

According to BBPD policy, “Vehicular pursuits will be initiated only if the officer reasonably believes that the person(s) fleeing has committed a forcible felony.”

“There never should have been a high-speed pursuit and it never should have resulted in the death of a child,” 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/community-members-express-anger-teens-traffic-stop-death/story?id=83889270