Timothy “Tim” Curry

How they died

Deadly force

Officers Glen Bowles, Glenn Burgess and Dave Vandenheede responded at 5:29 p.m. to the Cordova Courts Co-Op after Curry's cousin asked for help removing an "unwanted guest." Curry emerged from the basement and retreated several times until Bowles pepper sprayed him and called for backup. Officers Curt Randall, Norman Graleski and Richard "Dick" Vauris arrived, and Curry stood with his hand in his pocket as the officers sat at the kitchen table talking to him. Officer Mark Krutell arrived with his K-9. For unclear reasons, Vauris rushed Curry, grabbed him in a bear hug and backed him against the wall. Curry allegedly took Vauris' gun from its holster and fell onto his stomach with the gun under him, as Bowles grabbed Curry's wrist. Police said the gun discharged, striking Vauris, then fired again, striking Curry. The officers then shot Curry 13 times in the back, killing him. Sgt. Thomas Terzo arrived, and he and Krutell dragged Vauris to a police car and took him to a hospital, where he died. Curry's body remained on the floor for hours as an upset crowd gathered outside. About a month later, the Macomb County prosecutor said the shooting was justified. Curry's family contested the police version, asking whether Vauris was actually killed by a fellow officer. There was no gunpowder residue on Curry's hands and his fingerprints weren't on the gun. Investigators also never determined which gun the bullet that killed Vauris came from. Oakland County medical examiner Dr. Ljubisa Dragovic, who was hired by Curry's family, described one of the bullet wounds as an "execution-style" wound because the gun was directly against Curry's body when fired.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Timothy “Tim” Curry, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources