Traffic Stop in Hamtramck Escalates Into Deadly Police Pursuit and 15-Year Prison Sentence

What began as a routine traffic stop for minor civil infractions in Hamtramck, Michigan, ended in tragedy, leaving two community members dead and resulting in a lengthy prison sentence for the driver involved.

On October 10, 2024, Hamtramck Police officers initiated a traffic stop after observing a vehicle run a solid red light and travel without a visible license plate. During the initial contact, officers discovered the driver did not possess a valid driver’s license, registration, or proof of insurance. According to police reports, the driver was only able to provide a school identification card.

Officers asked the driver to step out of the vehicle in order to verify her identity, a lawful request under U.S. Supreme Court precedent. The driver repeatedly refused, stating she did not feel comfortable exiting the vehicle and demanded a supervisor. Two passengers in the vehicle began verbally interfering with the stop, further escalating tensions.

Despite numerous warnings, the driver continued to refuse lawful orders. Officers informed her that failure to comply would result in her removal from the vehicle and arrest for obstruction. When police attempted to extract her, the situation rapidly deteriorated. After a window was broken, the driver and passengers physically assaulted officers before fleeing the scene in the vehicle.

A high-speed pursuit followed through residential streets of Hamtramck, with speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour in zones posted at 25 miles per hour. Police reported the fleeing vehicle ran at least five red lights and narrowly avoided multiple collisions. During the chase, items were thrown from the vehicle.

The pursuit ended in catastrophic fashion when the fleeing vehicle crashed into stopped traffic at a major intersection. The collision killed two innocent community members: a 37-year-old man and his 73-year-old father. According to local media reports, an unborn child carried by one of the vehicle’s occupants also died as a result of the crash.

Officers immediately rendered aid and secured the scene as emergency medical services responded. The driver and passengers were taken into custody, while officers involved were treated for minor injuries.

The driver, later identified as Aaliyah Glenn, was charged with multiple felony offenses, including two counts of fleeing and eluding police causing death, two counts of reckless driving causing death, operating a vehicle without a valid license causing death, and assaulting police officers causing injury. She later entered a no-contest plea. Less serious charges were dismissed as part of the plea process.

On May 30, 2025, Glenn was sentenced to 7 to 15 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections and ordered to pay fines and court costs. She will be eligible for parole in 2032 but could remain incarcerated until 2040.

The passengers were not ultimately charged, a decision that has drawn criticism and scrutiny. Prosecutors declined charges against one passenger despite an admission of physical contact with an officer. The other passenger, a minor at the time, was released to her parents.

Authorities emphasized that the tragedy underscores how quickly routine encounters can escalate when lawful orders are ignored. What began as a traffic violation ended with irreversible loss, highlighting the devastating consequences of fleeing police and reckless decision-making on public roads.