Detroit Lions' Ndamukong Suh ticketed in driving incident
By Tom Greenwood and Tony Briscoe
The Detroit News
Lathrup Village — Detroit Lions' defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been flagged again for his driving.
But this time is he guilty of aggressive driving or the victim of an aggressive ticket writing officer?
On Nov. 15, Suh was cited for failure to use due care and caution while zipping through Lathrup Village, but two weeks later, his case is under review by Police Chief William Armstrong and the city's attorney office.
Armstrong said Tuesday that Suh was traveling at a high-rate of speed on northbound Southfield Road near 11 Mile in his black Range Rover. As the lane ran out, he merged in front of multiple vehicles.
However, Suh hasn't appeared in court because the department has decided to review the charges.
"Right now, it's under investigation," Armstrong said. "He was cited for due care and caution, and we have to see if it fits."
Armstrong is analyzing the evidence, including video from a police car's dash camera, to determine how appropriate the charges are — and a decision is expected Tuesday or Wednesday.
Armstrong said it's not unusual for the department to review three or four tickets per month.
"Just the other day, a homeless gentleman was written a ticket, and he came into the station and had it dismissed, so this is not special treatment," Armstrong said. "We'll dismiss it if it's not a good ticket."
Meanwhile, intense scrutiny of Suh has dominated headlines for his hit on Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in the groin area with his foot during the game last Thursday. However, the NFL notified the Lions on Monday that Suh would not be suspended for the contact.
But on the road, Suh continues to garner national scrutiny for his involvement in multiple car crashes.
Dearborn fender-bender
In October, Suh escaped a traffic ticket following a minor car crash along the Southfield Freeway in Dearborn. Livonia resident Stephen Vines, 43, accused Suh of sideswiping his car while on an exit ramp.
Vines said the defensive tackle clipped his Ford Escort as the football player was headed toward the team's practice facility. After the collision, Suh kept driving to the Lions' practice grounds, he said.
He also said he followed Suh to the facility, where he and Suh spoke with Dearborn police. However, officers said after their investigation, they could not determine who was at fault.
Vines said the damage to the two cars — the front right side of his Ford Escort and back left of Suh's Range Rover — was a sign that Suh cut him off as they exited on the Rotunda Drive exit ramp from southbound Southfield.
But even if police couldn't make that call, Vines said Suh drove off after the two vehicles collided and headed to the nearby Lions' practice facility.
Civil lawsuit filed
While under suspension from his stomping incident last season, Suh was involved in a crash in December in his 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport in his native Portland, Ore. A driver of another vehicle involved in the crash said she suffered severe emotional distress and back pain.
She has sued Suh for more than $1 million. Suh has since declined comment on that civil lawsuit filed against him in July.
In March, Suh was ticketed for doing 91 mph in a 55-mph zone on an Oregon freeway.
In 2010, Suh was in an accident in Royal Oak (11 Mile and Campbell) when a 30-year-old Shelby Township woman hit his Land Rover with her Honda Civic. Police said the woman was at fault because she disobeyed a traffic signal as she attempted to turn southbound on Campbell.
He wasn't injured, and alcohol wasn't involved, but police said the woman suffered minor injuries.
In his final season at the University of Nebraska, Suh was involved in incident in which he crashed into several parked cars. He pled guilty to negligent driving and paid a $60 fine.
Suh, reportedly driving his mother's SUV, said he swerved to avoid a cat.
tgreenwood@detnews.com