Charges dropped against man accused of fleeing police in a high-speed chase that killed Leneal Frazier
MINNEAPOLIS -- Charges were dropped on Friday against the man who was accused of fleeing police in a high-speed chase that resulted in the death of a bystander in Minneapolis two years ago.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office dismissed counts of fleeing police and auto theft against James Jeremiah Jones-Drain, 20, citing an "inability to prove all of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt at this time," according to a brief court filing.
Jones-Drain remains in custody with other cases pending — including felony charges of robbery and illegally possessing a gun — according to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.
RELATED: Ex-MPD officer Brian Cummings sentenced to workhouse, probation in crash that killed Leneal Frazier
Brian Cummings, the former Minneapolis police officer involved in the chase, was sentenced in July to nine months in the county workhouse, with eligibility for electronic home monitoring in three months, after pleading guilty to criminal vehicular homicide in the high-speed chase.
Prosecutors said at the time that Cummings was pursuing a suspected car thief on July 6, 2021, when he ran a red light and hit a car driven by Leneal Frazier, 40, of St. Paul, who died at the scene. Frazier's niece was Darnella Frazier, who shot the cellphone video of George Floyd's death when former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck in 2020.
Cummings was driving nearly 80 mph in Minneapolis with his siren and lights activated when his squad car slammed into the vehicle, officials have said. The crash ended a chase that lasted more than 20 blocks, including through residential neighborhoods where the posted speed limit was 25 mph.
Frazier's family said they're "deeply disappointed" by this development.
WCCO asked Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty Monday about why charges were filed against Jones-Drain in the first place.
"We thought we did have proof beyond a reasonable doubt, but as the investigation's gone on, we just don't have enough evidence right now," Moriarty said.
When asked what changed, Moriarty wouldn't give specifics, saying the case is still open. She says instead of risking acquittal, she would rather be able to re-charge Jones-Drain in the future.
Thomas Plunkett, attorney for Cummings, said in an email, "Mr. Cummings risked his life many times to protect people. He sits in jail. Mr. Jones-Drain, a gun-toting thief, who bears responsibility for the death of Leneal Frasier, and stole from the innocent gets a break? Minneapolis is a better place to be a criminal than a law enforcement officer."
In response to Plunkett's statement, Nicholas Kimball with the Hennepin County Attorney's Office said:
"Mr. Plunkett's client sits in jail because he voluntarily pled guilty to criminal vehicular homicide and admitted under oath, while represented by Mr. Plunkett, to needlessly driving in a grossly negligent manner at a speed of almost 100 mph in a residential area, causing the unfortunate death of Mr. Frazier. It is also worth noting that Mr. Cummings admitted he had legitimate alternatives to his criminal conduct and that he caused excessive danger to the general public with his actions. If his admitted conduct had not been so far from the norm, he would not have been charged, pled guilty, or been convicted."
WCCO also spoke Monday with Imran Ali, general counsel for the Minnesota Peace and Police Officers Association.
"It's difficult I think for the family and for the officers to see that Officer Cummings, through court, accepted responsibility and pled guilty, and now we don't have that same on the other side," Ali said.
Jones-Drain's attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
NOTE: Featured video is from July 12, 2023.
