It happened in a heartbeat on an ordinary Thursday night in 2020. Most people in Clifton, New Jersey, were just winding down their evening when the sirens started.
But for Sook Hee Lee, a 65-year-old grandmother who had lived in the area for decades, it was her nightly walk. Fresh air. Exercise. A routine she had followed since moving from South Korea in 1985. She was less than half a mile from her home. Then, everything changed at the corner of Allwood Road and Brookwood Road.
The name officer middleton clifton pedestrian has since become a focal point for debates on police protocol, qualified immunity, and the heavy price of emergency response.
The High-Speed Response That Went Wrong
Officer Garrell Middleton wasn't just patrolling. He was responding to a high-priority call—an attempted armed carjacking at Clifton Commons. Reports indicated the suspects might have had a handgun and a shotgun. The stakes were high.
Middleton had his lights on. He was moving fast. According to court documents and investigative reports, he was clocked at roughly 54 mph in a zone where the limit is just 25.
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Think about that for a second.
That is more than double the speed limit on a residential street at 7:00 PM. As he approached the intersection, a civilian vehicle was preparing to make a left turn. To avoid a T-bone collision, Middleton slammed on the brakes and jerked the wheel into a "hard left" evasive maneuver.
He missed the car. He didn't miss the sidewalk.
The patrol SUV hopped the curb, flattened a street sign, and struck Sook Hee Lee before finally coming to a stop against a nearby house.
The Investigation and the Grand Jury "No Bill"
When a law enforcement officer is involved in a fatal encounter in New Jersey, the state Attorney General’s Office takes over. It’s a law designed to keep things transparent. They looked at everything: the "Black Box" data from the cruiser, Nest doorbell footage from the neighbors, and witness statements.
Honestly, the footage was heartbreaking. It showed the sheer velocity of the vehicle.
Middleton did stop. He tried to give Lee medical aid. She was rushed to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, but the injuries were too severe. She was pronounced dead 30 minutes later.
In June 2022, a grand jury met to decide if the officer should face criminal charges. They voted "no bill." Basically, they decided his actions—while tragic—didn't meet the threshold for a crime under the circumstances of an emergency response.
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Why No Charges?
- Emergency Status: The officer was responding to a violent crime in progress.
- Evasive Action: The defense argued the "hard left" was a split-second decision to avoid hitting another driver.
- Lights and Sirens: Since the emergency equipment was active, the legal standards for "recklessness" change significantly for first responders.
The $2.85 Million Settlement
Even though the criminal case ended, the civil battle was just beginning. Lee’s family filed a lawsuit against the City of Clifton and the police department. They argued that Middleton’s driving was "palpably unreasonable."
Speeding to a call is part of the job. But doing 54 in a 25? The family’s legal team argued that was a bridge too far, especially in a walkable neighborhood.
In late 2024, the city finally settled. They agreed to pay $2.85 million to Sook Hee Lee’s estate. It’s a massive sum, but the settlement specifically stated there was no admission of wrongdoing by the officer or the city. It was, in many ways, a "quiet" end to a very loud tragedy.
What This Means for Pedestrian Safety Today
The officer middleton clifton pedestrian case is a reminder that "emergency" doesn't mean "invincible."
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New Jersey has seen a string of these incidents lately. In early 2025, another pedestrian was killed in Clifton near Getty Avenue in a multi-car wreck. People are frustrated. They’re asking why residential streets feel like drag strips.
If you’re a resident or just someone following these cases, there are actual things being pushed for in the wake of these settlements.
Practical Steps for Roadway Accountability
- Demand Telematics Transparency: Many departments now use software that alerts supervisors in real-time if a cruiser exceeds a certain percentage over the speed limit, even during a "hot" response.
- Infrastructure Changes: Local advocates are pushing for "pedestrian refuge islands" at intersections like Allwood and Brookwood to provide a physical barrier between the sidewalk and the street.
- Policy Re-Evaluation: Some cities are narrowing the definition of what warrants a "high-speed" response. Does a property crime justify 50+ mph? Many now say no.
Sook Hee Lee’s family can’t get her back. But the $2.85 million settlement sends a clear signal to municipalities: the cost of "getting there fast" can eventually become too high for the taxpayers to ignore.
Stay aware of your surroundings, even on the sidewalk. And keep an eye on local council meetings where police pursuit and response policies are debated. Your voice is usually the only thing that moves the needle on these safety protocols.