Cleveland to pay $4.8M to family of teen killed by stolen car during police chase

CLEVELAND — Cleveland will pay $4.8 million to the family of a 13-year-old girl who was killed when a stolen car driven by a teenage carjacker jumped the curb and hit her during a police chase.

The family settlement announced Monday is one of the largest in Ohio involving a police pursuit. Sarah Johnson, spokesperson for the city, said the decision to settle this case was “extremely difficult,” noting the circumstances surrounding it.

“The city had to consider all relevant factors prior to this outcome, including potential litigation and additional costs, but we want to be clear that there are no winners or losers in a case as tragic as this,” Johnson said. – while it’s easy to point fingers one way or another – the fact remains that if the armed car thief had never committed that crime, Tamia would still be here with us today.

Tamia Chappman was killed in December 2019 when a car driven by a 15-year-old boy struck her as she walked from school to a library in East Cleveland. The driver of the stolen car was charged as an adult and is now serving a prison sentence.

The carjacking had occurred about 15 miles away in Cleveland. The police chase began after an off-duty Cleveland officer witnessed the carjacking and followed the vehicle, authorities said.

Chappman’s family had filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2020 that named 22 Cleveland police officers who their attorneys said were involved in the pursuit.

“I’ll never get over it,” Sherrie Chappman, Tamia’s mother, said Monday during a news conference about her daughter’s death. “I miss my daughter. We’ll never get her back. I don’t want anyone’s children to get hurt. Stop the chases!”