Families Sue Cuyahoga County Sheriff After Two Innocent Bystanders Killed in Police Chases
CLEVELAND — The families of two innocent bystanders tragically killed in separate police pursuits are taking legal action against Cuyahoga County Sheriff Harold Pretel and the deputies involved. The lawsuits allege negligence and failure to follow protocol during high-speed chases that resulted in the deaths of Tamya Westmoreland and Sharday Elder, both of whom were uninvolved in the incidents.
The fatal crashes occurred less than six months apart, with both pursuits initiated by deputies from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office. Stanley Jackson, the attorney representing the families, slammed the department’s handling of the chases, stating, “Every person named in this lawsuit failed to meet the standard, failed to do their duty. Because of that, these two women lost their lives in the most tragic way.”
Tamya Westmoreland, a dedicated nurse and mother of four, was the first victim. Her eldest daughter, Lamia Westmoreland, described her mother as a pillar of strength who cared for her own children as well as her sister’s five kids. “She did her best, and she did a great job at it,” Lamia said. Tamya survived for two weeks after the crash but never returned home. “I wish every day I can bring her back,” Lamia added, her voice heavy with grief.
Less than six months later, Deputy Kasey Loudermilk, who was involved in the pursuit that killed Westmoreland, participated in another chase that claimed the life of Sharday Elder. Elder, a vibrant mother of two, had recently obtained her passport and was planning a trip to Jamaica with her children. Her sister, Cearria Elder, recalled her as a woman whose smile and energy lit up every room.
“I would have never thought I’d be losing my sister,” Cearria said. “Never. We lost our parents, and we had each other. Now I lost my sister, too.” Cearria is now struggling to fill the void left by Sharday’s death while raising her own children.
Jackson emphasized that both chases began over minor traffic violations and escalated to dangerous speeds of 80 to 100 miles per hour. “You never hear of any police department allowing pursuits at 100 miles an hour over minor traffic violations,” he said. “It was very alarming.”
In response to the tragedies, the sheriff’s department has revised its pursuit policy, now limiting chases to cases involving suspected violent felonies. However, Jackson argues that these changes are insufficient. The families are also calling for the dissolution of the county’s former downtown safety patrol, which initiated both pursuits. The unit has since been rebranded as the Community Support Unit.
Lamia Westmoreland expressed frustration with the department’s reliance on chases, given modern technology. “Y’all got traffic cameras, y’all can see from the sky,” she said. “I’m not really understanding what the chasing is about.”
The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.
For the families, the lawsuits are not just about seeking justice but also about preventing similar tragedies. “She should be here with us and her family,” Cearria Elder said of her sister. Meanwhile, Lamia Westmoreland hopes her fight will spare other families from enduring the same heartbreak.
— Reported by Nexio News
