Midtown Tribune has received a request circulated in a New York City ethnic and community media group to draw attention to a petition concerning Susan Glass-Smith, a Detroit woman who says she faced racial insults and threats after a September 12, 2026 traffic collision. The petition asks authorities to investigate whether conduct following the crash warrants hate-crime or other criminal charges. These are allegations and requests for investigation, not findings of guilt.
WHAT OFFICIAL RECORDS CONFIRM
In a September 29 statement, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said that around 10:16 p.m. on September 12, an 18-year-old Detroit driver allegedly disregarded a traffic signal near Southfield Freeway Service Drive and Paul Drive and struck another vehicle. Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s office charged that driver with two misdemeanors: failure to stop after a personal-injury accident and failure to stop after a property-damage accident. The driver was arraigned September 17 and received a $10,000 personal bond. The charges remain allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The same official statement said prosecutors received a separate warrant request concerning a 20-year-old man involved in an incident after the collision. That request was denied on September 22 because the evidence was insufficient to prove a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutors said they requested further investigation by Detroit police. The statement did not announce hate-crime charges.
WHAT SUSAN GLASS-SMITH ALLEGES
In an interview reported by Detroit television station WXYZ, Glass-Smith said a crowd surrounded her vehicle, opened its doors, threatened her and used racial slurs. Her attorney, Johnny Hawkins, argued that the circumstances should be examined for potential bias-motivated offenses. The reported number of people in the crowd varies by account and has not been independently established by Midtown Tribune. Allegations concerning theft, weapons and threats should not be treated as adjudicated facts.
The WXYZ report also included the account of a local witness who condemned the racist language and said he did not know those responsible. An Arab American civil-rights advocate said his organization had reached out to Glass-Smith and cautioned against assigning collective blame to an entire community. Responsibility for any crime must be assessed individually, on evidence.
THE PETITION AND THE REQUEST TO SHARE IT
A petition titled “Demand Hate Crime Charges and Equal Justice for Susan Glass-Smith,” started on Change.org on October 9, calls for additional investigation and accountability. The campaign is a public appeal, not an official determination of facts or a legal charging document. Readers may review the petition and decide independently whether to sign: https://www.change.org/demandhatecrimecharges
WHY PRECISE LANGUAGE MATTERS
Whether an incident legally qualifies as a hate crime depends on evidence of a qualifying underlying offense and the required bias motivation under applicable law. Offensive words may be relevant evidence, but allegations alone cannot establish criminal liability. Midtown Tribune supports a thorough, fair investigation and due process for everyone involved, without presuming an outcome.
PRIMARY DOCUMENT AND ADDITIONAL REPORTING
Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, “Detroit Woman Charged in Non-Fatal Car Crash,” September 29, 2026: https://www.waynecountymi.gov/Prosecutor-Press-Releases/2026/Detroit-Woman-Charged-in-Non-Fatal-Car-Crash
WXYZ Detroit, “Woman alleges hate crime after crash near Southfield Freeway”: https://www.wxyz.com/news/woman-alleges-hate-crime-after-crash-near-southfield-freeway
Change.org petition: https://www.change.org/p/demand-hate-crime-charges-and-equal-justice-for-susan-glass-smith
Editor’s note: The official prosecutor statement and media reports contain differing descriptions of the injured woman’s age. We have omitted her age pending clarification. This article distinguishes the official charging record from allegations made by the complainant and petition organizer.
Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York
What Has Been Confirmed?
- Wayne County Prosecutor issued a September 29, 2026 statement on the September 12 crash.
- An 18-year-old driver was charged with two traffic-related misdemeanors.
- A separate warrant request concerning a 20-year-old man was denied; further investigation was requested.
What Has Not Been Established?
- Whether the reported threats and slurs satisfy the elements of a hate crime.
- The number and identities of people involved after the collision.
- Whether allegations of theft or weapon use will lead to charges.
Official Sources and References
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