Nearly a year after the death of 47-year-old Steven Pearson, his family has filed a lawsuit against the Mississippi cities of Pearl and Flowood. Pearson was tragically killed when his motorcycle was struck by a suspect fleeing police in August 2022. The lawsuit alleges that the officers' reckless pursuit, which spanned 26 minutes, directly led to Pearson's demise, and argues that the chase could have been terminated before the fatal collision. The incident began when a Pearl police officer attempted a traffic stop, prompting the driver of a sedan to flee. The ensuing pursuit crossed into Flowood, with local police joining the chase. According to the complaint filed by the family's attorney, Ray Gustavis, the fleeing vehicle struck Pearson's motorcycle, causing him to be thrown 20 feet and resulting in his death. The lawsuit contends that the extended pursuit violated state law. In addition to the cities, the lawsuit also names the driver of the fleeing vehicle as a defendant. Reports indicate that the initial reason for the attempted traffic stop was a window tint violation. This tragic incident follows another fatal crash just three weeks prior, where a vehicle pursued by Pearl police collided with a U.S. Postal Service truck in Jackson, resulting in the death of mail carrier Brad Pennington. While Pearl's spokesperson declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, Flowood officials have not yet responded to requests for comment.
