Minneapolis City Council approves $475,000 settlement with family of man killed in 2021 MPD crash
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The Minneapolis City Council voted Thursday to approve a $475,000 dollar settlement with the family of Leneal Frazier, who died in 2021 after a police officer chasing a suspect crashed into his car.
On July 6, 2021, then-officer Brian Cummings pursued a carjacking suspect for about 20 blocks through the north Minneapolis neighborhood at speeds of up 100 miles per hour, according to the lawsuit.
Frazier had a green light as he drove through the intersection at Lyndale Avenue North and 41st Avenue. The vehicle driven by the carjacking suspect narrowly missed Frazier as it sped through the intersection, but the squad car slammed into the driver’s side of Frazier’s Jeep. He died about 90 minutes later.
The civil suit filed by Frazier's family alleged that Cummings had a history of reckless pursuits that the department failed to discipline him for.
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Attorney Jeff Storms represented the family in the case. He said in a statement that the “settlement does not come close to providing accountability for Leneal’s suffering, the loss of his life or the devastating impact on his family.” Storms added, “While this is a step towards closure for Leneal’s family, it is far from justice.”
Storms said it’s “nearly impossible” to pursue a constitutional claim in federal court on behalf of a bystander like Frazier. He said the only available relief is state law claims that are subject to the state’s $500,000 tort cap.
“This tragedy underscores yet again the urgent need to reform Minnesota’s tort cap,” Storms said.
A spokesperson from the city of Minneapolis didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the case.
Both former Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman and current County Attorney Mary Moriarty called Cummings’ actions reckless and said he violated department policies on pursuits. Cummings pleaded guilty to one count of criminal vehicular homicide in 2023 and was sentenced to 270 days in jail.
The man who fled police was initially also charged in Frazier’s death, although those charges were dropped in 2023.
Frazier left behind six children and an extended family that includes Darnella Frazier, who recorded and posted video of George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police in 2020.
The civil settlement with Minneapolis still needs to be formally approved by the court.
