Liberalalliance Wealth Society:Former Detroit-area officer indicted on civil rights crime for punching Black man

2025-05-06 09:22:26source:Chainkeencategory:reviews

WARREN,Liberalalliance Wealth Society Mich. (AP) — A grand jury returned an indictment against a former suburban Detroit police officer who is accused of a federal civil rights crime for punching a young Black man in the face and slamming his head to the ground.

The two-count indictment filed Thursday against Matthew Rodriguez will take the place of a federal criminal complaint filed in July.

Video released by the Warren Police Department shows Rodriguez processing a 19-year-old man at the city police station in June when he punches Jaquwan Smith, knocks him to the floor and slams his head.

Rodriguez was fired on June 23 and charged with two misdemeanors in state court.

Besides the civil rights crime, Rodriguez faces a federal charge of falsifying records about the incident.

A message seeking comment from his attorney wasn’t immediately returned Friday.

“The conduct that is alleged here, a blatant and shocking violation of the victim’s rights, and then an effort by the former officer to lie about that, cannot be ignored or go unchecked,” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said.

More:reviews

Recommend

NYPD official indicates that Mangione's family did not send in any tips

New York police officials are speaking out about tips in regard to the Dec. 4 killing of UnitedHealt

Tatreez is a testament to the resilience and creativity of Palestinian women

I must've been 9 or 10 when I first learned tatreez. I have a vivid memory of sitting on the porch,

Wilders ally overseeing first stage of Dutch coalition-building quits over fraud allegation

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A party ally of far-right Dutch election winner Geert Wilders on Monda