Man charged with killing Detroit police officer in crash while smoking crack

DETROIT (WJBK) - A Lincoln Park man was formally charged with killing a Detroit police officer Monday.

Steven Patrick Guzina looking pained as he looked up, listening to the charges and squinting as he hears charges like second degree murder, operating while intoxicated causing death, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident a long list that could put him in prison for life.

He's accused of crashing into Officer Myron Jarrett as the 40-year-old husband and father was working an accident scene at Monica and Puritan Friday night.

"This defendant drove around the city purchasing crack cocaine, smoking it, drove around some more, purchased some more crack cocaine and smoked it again traveling at a high rate of speed in a vehicle," said Molly Kettler, assistant Wayne County prosecutor.

Kettler detailed in court the allegations against Guzina.

"Repeatedly he was told to slow down by a passenger in the vehicle," Kettler said. "He disregarded the clearly activated lights on top of the police car, where police officers of this city were
doing their jobs protecting the citizens engaged in a traffic stop."

Kettler told the judge he also has a prior conviction for operating while intoxicated and he fled the scene of the crime. Police picked him up a short time later with the help of the suspect's wife who told them where to find him. As for the woman he was with at the time of the accident - she has been located at a hospital and is unlikely to face charges.

As for Guzina - the owner of three Tijuana Mexican restaurants in Detroit and Downriver, the prosecutor asked the judge to keep him behind bars. The  magistrate agreed, remanding him to Wayne County Jail.

"Certainly we believe that the defendant is definitely dangerous to the community if he were out and certainly a flight risk," said Deputy Chief David LeValley. "So we're very satisfied that the magistrate remanded him to Wayne County Jail.

This comes as a department mourns the loss of a much loved officer.

"He was an outstanding officer," said Chief James Craig. "Everyone I've talked to from his family, his wife, great father, to the officers a great mentor, a friend certainly to the community. This is someone who deeply cared not only for the work and the difference he was making - but the community loved him."