Testimony continues for a 6th day in case against LMPD officer accused of violating chase policy in 2021 crash

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The family of a man killed in a crash two years ago, along with four others who were injured, are suing a Louisville Metro Police officer.

Testimony continued for a sixth day Wednesday in the case against LMPD officer Ben Sullivan, who is accused of violating the department's chase policy in 2021.

In court, Sullivan was called "a fantastic police officer" when an attorney asked whether he was a good officer.

In July 2021, Sullivan was trying to pull over a car being driven by Larry Williams. Williams took off, and Sullivan chased him. The ensuing chase ended in a crash when Williams sped through a stoplight at the intersection of Broadway and Dr. W.J. Hodge Street.

Williams hit Trevon Mitchell, 22, who was on a moped and died in the crash. Four other people were also injured.

Mitchell's family said Sullivan should be held accountable, and has since filed a lawsuit against him.

Wednesday, LMPD was questioned about the methods and timing of the investigation.

"You will admit to me that whether it was a legal traffic stop or not is just your opinion at this point," an attorney asked an LMPD officer on the stand. "The jury gets to decide whether it was a legal traffic stop, right?"

"No I don't think that's a matter of opinion," the officer responded. "It was a legal traffic stop because it had improper tags."

"Why did you ask 'do you want PIU out there?'" the attorney asked.

"For transparency," the officer answered.

"Transparency about what?" the attorney asked.

"This is a car that we tried to conduct a traffic stop on," the officer said.

"That you all pursued in violation of policy, let's just call it what is please," the attorney responded.

"Well, we were involved in some way shape or form," the officer said. "It doesn't matter if we were behind a second or 20 seconds. I would've made the same suggestions."

Earlier this week, LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel testified that there was no body camera footage from her device because she was not wearing a camera when visiting the scene.

But attorneys later showed a picture showing that she was in fact wearing one.

In a statement released late Tuesday afternoon, Gwinn-Villaroel said she misspoke in court, and that the testimony she gave "was to the best of my recollection of the events" and that she "did not recall wearing a body-worn camera that day."

The trial is expected to wrap up next week.

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