Local & State Headlines

ADDU officer is focus of lawsuit

• A lawsuit claims an officer's decision to pursue a suspect showed "reckless disregard for the public."

J.D. Sumner

ALBANY — The family of a Leesburg man killed during a high-speed pursuit last summer has filed a lawsuit seeking unspecified damages from the Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit and the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office, court documents show.

William “Billy” Klewitz died after a suspected drug dealer crashed into his car while being chased by Cpl. Gary Price — a member of the ADDU — June 27, 2007, records show.

Filed in Dougherty County State Court, the suit claims that Price’s decision to pursue Bobby Renaldo Jones down North Jackson Street and into Lee County was in violation of existing ADDU policy and showed a “reckless disregard for the public.”

While the suit doesn’t list a specific amount of money the Klewitz’ family is seeking, court records show that their lawyers believe that the loss of their son is worth millions of dollars. The City of Albany, Dougherty County, the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Jamil Saba and the ADDU are all named in the suit as defendants.

According to police reports, Jones fled from Price when he attempted to conduct a traffic stop and sped down North Jackson Street crossing into Lee County.

During the pursuit, the lawsuit claims that Price and the suspect weaved in and out of traffic on Old Leesburg Road at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour, when Jones crashed into Klewitz.

The family’s attorneys contend that Klewitz endured “considerable” pain and suffering before ultimately dying, the suit says.

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