Deputy won't face charges in death of driver who crashed while fleeing

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- A Berrien County deputy will not be charged in connection with a vehicle pursuit that led to a crash that killed the suspect.

Around 5:30 p.m. on July 28, a be on the lookout alert was broadcast to deputies about a man who was possibly intoxicated and caused a disturbance at Dale's Mini Mart.

The broadcast included a description of the vehicle.

A deputy on patrol in a Berrien County Sheriff's Department marked patrol vehicle spotted the suspect vehicle stopped at a green light, reports said.

The deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. Initially the vehicle pulled into a parking lot as though the driver was going to stop, but then quickly sped off, reports said.

Investigators say the driver, later identified as 24-year-old David Bross, was driving at speeds over 100 miles per hour and passed vehicles on both the left and the right, reports said.

The deputy maintained a distance but kept the vehicle in view.

After slowing for traffic, the deputy sped up to try to catch up to the vehicle and discovered it had left the road and hit a tree.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene and Bross was taken to a South Bend hospital.

He was later pronounced dead.

The investigation revealed Bross's blood alcohol level was .17.

The deputy was not charged because the deputy was not criminally negligent, or negligent at all, while performing his duties, according to the prosecutor's office.