Atlanta, Georgia (February 17, 2025) – A mother is taking legal action against the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) following the tragic death of her 18-year-old son in a high-speed chase involving the Georgia State Patrol (GSP). The case has sparked widespread debate about law enforcement pursuit policies and their impact on public safety.
The incident, which occurred in September 2022, began with a routine traffic stop on Interstate 85 near Cleveland Avenue. A Georgia State Patrol trooper spotted a Jeep speeding at over 90 MPH in a 55 MPH zone and attempted to pull it over. However, the driver did not stop, initiating a high-speed chase that eventually led to a deadly crash. The Jeep was involved in a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver, a controversial tactic used by law enforcement to force a fleeing vehicle off the road. The maneuver caused the Jeep to flip and crash, resulting in the deaths of two individuals, including 18-year-old Amarion Clotter, who was in the backseat.
Amarion’s mother, Shakenna Clotter, is now suing the Georgia Department of Public Safety for negligence, claiming that the officers involved in the pursuit violated agency policies and acted recklessly, leading to her son’s death. According to Shakenna, Amarion was not the driver, but rather a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the chase. The legal complaint also argues that the troopers’ actions violated the department’s pursuit and use of force policies, which are designed to prioritize safety during high-speed chases.
The lawsuit highlights the fact that the crash took place in less than five minutes after the trooper first activated their sirens. The short duration of the chase and the extreme speed at which it took place raise questions about the necessity and risks of such pursuits.
Rising Concerns Over High-Speed Chases
This tragic incident is not an isolated case. Investigations by 11Alive News have revealed alarming statistics about the frequency of dangerous vehicle pursuits by Georgia law enforcement. Between 2019 and 2023, Georgia State Patrol officers were involved in nearly 7,000 vehicle chases. Of these, more than half resulted in accidents, many of which led to serious injuries or fatalities.
The data also shows that over 1,300 people were injured in these chases, including 245 bystanders. The number of fatalities is equally troubling, with 73 people losing their lives during these high-speed pursuits, including 15 innocent bystanders.
Shakenna Clotter, who has been devastated by the loss of her son, is calling for a change in the state’s pursuit policies to prevent further tragedies. She believes that such chases should be reserved for serious crimes and not for minor traffic violations, such as speeding.
“I understand that the PIT maneuver can be important in certain cases,” she said. “Maybe if there’s a BOLO [Be On the Look Out] for a kidnapper or a terrorist. But not for something as simple as a speeding check.”
She went on to emphasize that there were alternative ways the situation could have been handled, and that her son’s life could have been saved if the officers had exercised better judgment. “I don’t have my son anymore. My grandson doesn’t have a dad anymore,” Shakenna said.
Georgia’s Law Enforcement Chase Crisis
The impact of GSP’s high-speed chases has placed Georgia at the forefront of a national conversation about the dangers of law enforcement pursuits. From 2018 to 2022, Georgia had the highest rate of deaths caused by law enforcement chases in the United States. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a total of 201 people died in law enforcement chases in Georgia during that period. Although not all of these deaths were the result of GSP actions, the agency was a major contributor to the state’s high fatality rate.
In comparison, North Carolina, a state with similar demographics, had less than half the number of chase-related deaths. However, states with much larger populations, like California and Texas, had more deaths in absolute numbers, though their population sizes make such comparisons less direct.
The statistics raise concerns about whether law enforcement agencies, including the Georgia State Patrol, are using high-speed chases too often, and whether they are properly balancing the risks of such pursuits against the potential benefits.
A report from the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) in 2023 recommended that law enforcement agencies limit vehicle chases to situations where a violent crime has been committed and where the suspect poses a serious threat to public safety. The report’s conclusion emphasized that while suspects may evade capture temporarily, no one can reverse the consequences of a fatal crash.
Department of Public Safety’s Response
In response to these investigations, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Public Safety defended the agency’s actions, stating that troopers are trained to exercise caution during chases and to evaluate factors like traffic conditions and the severity of the offense before engaging in a pursuit. However, the department has faced criticism for granting officers broad discretion in determining when and how to initiate a chase.
The spokesperson added that GSP does not initiate chases but rather responds when a driver flees a lawful traffic stop. The department argues that the rise in criminal activity, such as street racing and reckless driving, necessitates a more aggressive approach to law enforcement, including the use of vehicle pursuits.
Despite these explanations, Shakenna Clotter remains determined to hold the department accountable. She is calling for the Georgia State Patrol to review and reform its pursuit policies, ensuring that they are used only in the most serious and necessary situations.
The Case Continues
As of now, the lawsuit filed by Shakenna Clotter is still ongoing in the courts. The outcome of the case may have significant implications for the future of vehicle pursuit policies in Georgia and could prompt similar lawsuits in other states grappling with the dangers of high-speed chases.
As this case continues to unfold, it highlights the need for a careful review of law enforcement tactics, with a focus on balancing public safety and the lives of innocent bystanders. For now, Shakenna Clotter remains committed to seeking justice for her son and preventing further tragedy caused by reckless police pursuits.
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