Richard Martinovics

How they died

Deadly force

A blue Dodge pickup was spotted leaving a hit-and-run accident. A man who saw the accident called police on his cellular phone and followed the truck for several blocks, giving officers its license plate number and directions of where Richard Martinovics was going. An officer spotted the truck at 13 Mile and Gratiot and chased the other for about two miles at high speed through subdivisions, where the truck ran over curbs and struck at least two parked cars, police said. Martinovics lost control of the pickup and ran into a third parked car at Roseville Boulevard and Maple. The officer tried to pull Martinovics out of the other, but he attacked the officer, punching the officer in his face and chest. Martinovics pinned the officer between the police car and a building with the truck. The officer shot and killed Martinovics.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Richard Martinovics, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources