A Trenton man names the police department and an officer in the suit and claims the officer acted negligently.
TRENTON - A Trenton man claims he was injured last year when a city police officer ran a red light and crashed into his car, according to a lawsuit.
A Trenton police car The suit was filed on behalf of Charles McKinzey in Mercer County Superior Court last month; it names both the Trenton Police Department and Police Officer Kevin Starkey as defendants.
In the suit McKinzey claims that he was driving on Southard Street last December, crossing Perry Street at a green light. As he went through the intersection, Starkey, who was driving a Trenton Police Department-owned vehicle on Perry Street, ran the red light at the same intersection and crashed into McKinzey, the suit said.
Mark Davis, an attorney representing McKinzey said Wednesday that they believe Starkey had been stopped at the red light and did not signal or turn on his siren when he drove through.
The suit claimed Starkey acted negligently in the crash.
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McKinzey was injured in the crash and said that it aggravated a pre-existing medical condition.
A Trenton Police spokesperson declined to comment Wednesday on the pending litigation and said he could not give information on the crash.
Starkey claimed he had been chasing a traffic violator, Davis said, adding that he doesn't believe chasing a traffic violator is reason enough to run a red light.
"I don't believe his conduct was shown to be in compliance with (police) policy," he added.
Davis said he has put in two public records requests for the police department's vehicular police policy to confirm his belief but said he has not received copies of the policy.
This is the second time in recent months that Starkey has been involved in an auto accident lawsuit.
In October, Starkey was the plaintiff in a suit against Laquan Williams, a Trenton man who Starkey and another officer were pursuing in 2013.
Williams died in an unrelated ATV crash the following year.
In that case, Starkey said Williams intentionally drove into his car, injuring him and another police officer.
There is no relation between the lawsuit Starkey filed in October and the one McKinzey filed in November.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
