FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office
Contact: Dawn Fraylick, Communications Director
Office: +1 (586) 469-5737
Cell: +1 (586) 842-4421
Email: Dawn.Fraylick@macombgov.org
July 10, 2024
Police Officer and Her Son Charged in Car Crash in Lapeer County
Mount Clemens, MI - The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office authorized charges on a police officer and her son in connection with a Dryden Twp. traffic crash after the case was referred from the Lapeer County Prosecutors’ Office to the Macomb County Prosecutors’ Office per the normal conflict of interest process.
It is alleged that on Sunday, July 2, 2023, a traffic crash occurred involving an Amazon driver and a 15-year-old juvenile. The Amazon driver failed to yield to the juvenile driving a GMC Acadia, resulting in the Amazon driver having life-threatening injuries. The 15-year-old juvenile left the scene of the crash. A neighbor heard the crash and gave the Amazon driver aid. A little while later, the mother of the juvenile and an off duty Almont Police Officer, Amanda Szymanski, arrived at the scene of the crash. Szymanski allegedly lied and told investigators that she was in the car with her son at the time of the crash.
Amanda Szymanski, age 45, of Dryden was charged with Lying to a Police Officer - Four Year or More Crime Investigation, a two year high court misdemeanor. The now 16-year-old juvenile was charged with Failure to Stop at the Scene of the Accident Resulting in Serious Impairment or Death, a five year felony.
The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office will be handling this case in the 71A Lapeer District Court. Today, Amanda Szymanski was arraigned in 71A Lapeer District Court where Magistrate Michael C. Delling set a $5,000 personal bond. A Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for Friday, July 19, 2024 at 9:00 am.
“Police officers are held to a higher standard and allegedly lying to protect a loved one in a serious car crash only complicates the criminal justice process and leads to more harm. Our community relies on honesty and cooperation to ensure that justice is served fairly and swiftly," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido.
The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office represents the people. We are committed to achieving justice and following the laws of the State of Michigan. All that are accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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