DPD officer suspended for striking man in his 70s, investigation ongoing
A Detroit police officer was suspended Saturday after striking a man in his 70s in the jaw area, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head, according to a statement from Police Chief James White.
Body-camera footage showed the now-suspended officer was initially struck on the head by the man, who appeared to be intoxicated and was causing a disturbance in a Midtown establishment, according to police.
The officer, assigned to the DPD Downtown Services section, responded to a call from an employee regarding the disturbance at approximately 6:50 p.m. on Friday.
"The video also shows that the officer attempted on several occasions to ask and then direct the individual causing the disturbance to leave the area and he refused to comply," White stated.
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After receiving a detailed briefing on the incident, White said, he issued the immediate suspension of the involved officer, pending further investigation. The Homicide Task Force with Michigan State Police is leading the investigative effort, while the DPD Force Investigation Unit is conducting its own inquiry.
According to protocol, the Homicide Task Force usually investigates critical incidents involving officers using force.
The man is currently at a local hospital; his condition remains unknown, police said.
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"My decision was influenced by concerns that, at the very least, the officer did not adequately de-escalate or disengage from the situation," White said. "The investigation will encompass a meticulous review of all available video evidence and other pertinent information to ascertain whether the officer's actions were reasonable given the circumstances and proportionate to any potential threat posed by the individual."
"I intend to provide further information to community members and media partners in the upcoming days," White said.
Contact Nour Rahal: nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit police officer suspended for striking man in his 70s
