Paige Dembow was driving the car that killed 77-year-old Howard Brown while he crossed Invergordon Road in November. Less than 30 minutes later, officers let her go home with her dad, Vice Mayor Paul Dembow.
Tim Casey, a lawyer for the Brown family, claims Paige should have been more thoroughly questioned and screened for alcohol or drug impairment. He plans to file a notice of claim, which is a precursor to a lawsuit, against the Town of Paradise Valley.
"The vice mayor of the town comes [to the scene]," Casey said. "The applied pressure you put on the police department there - completely inappropriate. We believe it's going to show an abuse of process and abuse of power."
Both Paul Dembow and police officials say nothing inappropriate happened. They say first responders were not aware of Dembow's position with the city. They concluded that Paige was not impaired, but she was very distraught.
"It's clearly on the body-worn camera video that he [an officer] did interview her, and her statements were consistent with the witness who was traveling behind her," Lt. Michael Cole said.
In part to avoid a conflict of interest, Scottsdale police completed the accident investigation. No charges were filed.
