Deshawn Dante Leeth and the Dangerous Glorification of Criminals

E. S. de Vries

16 Apr 2025 — 3 min read

He stole a cruiser, assaulted an officer, and led police on a chase across state lines—but the internet made him a martyr. This is exactly why crime is spiraling.

The facts aren’t in dispute. On April 4, 2025, Deshawn Dante Leeth—a 30-year-old from Michigan—assaulted an Ohio state trooper, stole a marked police cruiser, and led authorities on a high-speed chase into Pennsylvania. He crashed the car and was fatally shot during a confrontation with state police.

But somehow, despite the clear danger he posed, a chorus of online activists and media sympathizers are painting him as a victim.

Why? Because nuance died—and so did accountability.

What Actually Happened

According to WPXI News, Leeth was stopped on the Ohio Turnpike after erratic behavior. During the interaction, he assaulted the trooper, commandeered the patrol car, and crossed into Pennsylvania—igniting a multi-agency pursuit.

Police reports confirm:

Leeth talked to himself incoherently in the stolen vehicle
He refused multiple commands to exit the car
He was shot and killed after resisting arrest and posing a threat to officers

This wasn’t a misunderstanding. It wasn’t a wrongful traffic stop.

This was a violent criminal event—and yet, it’s being spun into another social justice crusade.

Leeth’s confrontation with police officer caught on cruiser dash cam

The Criminal History the Media Forgot to Mention

Yes, Leeth had once started a nonprofit for troubled youth.

But that doesn’t erase the fact that he had 13 felony home invasion charges between 2012 and 2015, according to The A2 Independent. He served years in prison and was well-known to law enforcement.

This wasn’t his first violent interaction with police—and if not for the fatal outcome, it likely wouldn’t have been his last.

So Why Are People Defending Him?

Because we’ve reached a point where any use of force by police, no matter how justified, gets framed as systemic abuse.

Social media thrives on emotional narratives, not factual ones. Even news sources told the story as “community leader shot by police.” And stories like Leeth’s get rebranded overnight:

Criminal becomes activist
Danger becomes misunderstanding
Law enforcement becomes villain

Let’s be clear: Leeth was not gunned down during a peaceful protest.

He was in a stolen police car, actively resisting arrest, and had a documented history of serious violent offenses. Yet we’re supposed to treat this like a civil rights case?

Repeat Offenders Are an International Crisis—And No One’s Paying Attention

Cases like this aren’t just PR disasters. They’re symptoms of a justice system that refuses to take repeat crime seriously.

In Canada:

Offenders with 10 or more prior convictions have a 79% reconviction rate within three years (StatsCan)
In B.C., judges granted bail in 75% of violent cases where the accused was already out on bail for another offense (Global News)

In other words, we’re recycling criminals back into the system faster than we can process them. And each time, someone innocent pays the price.

The Faultline Take

Deshawn Dante Leeth didn’t deserve to be elevated. He needed help—and a system that took repeat crime seriously.

Instead, he got freedom after freedom, second chance after second chance, until one day, he posed a danger too serious to ignore.

And now?

A dangerous man is being memorialized as a martyr, while cops are once again painted as bloodthirsty monsters.

This is why crime is out of control. We don’t need more hashtags. We need accountability, truth, and a justice system that prioritizes public safety over public sympathy.