Photo: CBS 12
The Florida Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the death of a 13-year old boy being pursued by police in Boynton Beach while riding a dirt bike recklessly Sunday.
Investigators say Stanley Davis Junior was riding away from a cop when he hit a median and crashed into a sign.
It's unknown whether the officer violated any department policy, but Boynton Beach Mayor Steven B. Grant said this to CBS 12 News.
"We should not blame the police department for the actions of an individual officer, however the city and the police are responsible."
He appears to be siding with the family of the boy, who are claiming that race played a role in police pursuing him. Davis Junior was black.
“The situation that created this didn’t happen just yesterday, this is an aspect of how the city has treated parts of the city for decades, even before I was mayor. So, the city is trying to work with the community to get a resolution so that it’s safer for everyone.”
Earlier this year, the city published on their website a ‘Black History Timeline of Boynton Beach’ which acknowledged the city’s past, including taking Black families' land.