Lapeer County police officer charged with lying to police about her 15-year-old son's crash with Amazon driver

(WWJ) — A police officer from Lapeer County has been charged with lying to police about a crash involving her son and an Amazon driver.

Amanda Szymanski, 45, was arraigned Wednesday in connection with a 2023 crash in Dryden Township. The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office is handling the case, per the standard conflict of interest process, as she is a police officer in Almont.

The prosecutor’s office says Szymanski’s 15-year-old son was driving on July 2, 2023, when an Amazon driver failed to yield to the underage driver’s GMC Acadia. The crash resulted in life-threatening injuries for the Amazon driver, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The teen allegedly left the scene of the crash. A neighbor who heard the crash happened gave the Amazon driver aid.

A “little while later,” according to the sheriff’s office, Szymanski showed up at the scene. She was off-duty at the time.

She allegedly lied and told investigators she was in the car with her son at the time of the crash. Szymanski has been charged with Lying to a Police Officer - Four Year or More Crime Investigation, a two-year high court misdemeanor.

The now 16-year-old son was charged with Failure to Stop at the Scene of the Accident Resulting in Serious Impairment or Death, a five-year felony.

“Police officers are held to a higher standard and allegedly lying to protect a loved one in a serious car crash only complicates the criminal justice process and leads to more harm. Our community relies on honesty and cooperation to ensure that justice is served fairly and swiftly," Prosecuto Pete Lucido said, per a press release.

Szymanski’s bond was set at $5,000. Her next court appearance is scheduled for July 19. The prosecutor’s office did not release any further information about the charges the teen is facing.

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