A young Riviera Beach man's life is changed forever after a police pursuit ends with him unable to walk or talk.
Now, his family is suing the Riviera Beach Police Department claiming negligence.
Just after Valentines Day 2017, then 24-year old Domonique Washington was driving through this neighborhood at Avenue E and Blue Heron Boulevard when he was T-boned by an SUV going 70 miles per hour in a neighborhood.
Back then, Washington was a new dad and personal trainer living in Riviera Beach.
"He was super active. He ran 5 miles a day in the morning," said Nneka Webb, Washington's mother. "He worked out every morning before he went to work."
But now, the 26-year-old can't walk, speak well or eat without the help of his family and mother.
"I'm upset over it," said Webb.
She spoke to us over Skype while she takes care of him in Wisconsin.
"I went my whole life making sure he didn't break a bone just for him to move to another state and get caught up in something that had nothing to do with him," she said.
In February 2017, Washington was on his way to a client for his personal training business when an SUV being pursued by police crashed into him.
"That chase went in excess of 70 mph, through a residential neighborhood, where the speed limit is 25 mph," said D.J. Ward, an attorney for Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, the firm representing Washington. "It was a tragedy, that could've been avoided."
In police dash cam video, you can see the suspect's Chevy Tahoe, crash into Washington's Mazda Protege. The Chevy was driven by Lewis Frank, who -- according to the crash report -- had run a stop sign.
"He got caught up in you know, somebody else's mischief, that changed his life forever," said Webb.
The crash report shows officers Shondra King and Chris Francis were pursuing the suspect. According to public records, Frank had a criminal history involving drugs.
We reviewed the Rivera Beach police policy, which states that in a pursuit, officers can exceed maximum speed limits, so long as they don't endanger life or property.
See the document below to read the full policy guidelines for the Riviera Beach Police Department:
"The police chase should just be stopped because it presents more harm to the public," said Ward. "His now almost 2-year old son Justin will one day be his father's caregiver."
For now, Washington's family said they are hopeful.
"That justice is served," said Webb. "I think Domonique got caught up in something that didn't have to happen."
Riviera Beach police told WPTV that they cannot comment on pending litigation.
The suspect in the chase was convicted of several charges, including fleeing the scene of an accident.
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
