Man who killed off-duty Detroit cop with her service weapon will likely not serve jail time



A man who shot and killed his girlfriend, a sergeant with the Detroit Police Department, will likely not serve jail time after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors.

The plea agreement stems from an apparent incident of domestic violence several years ago. In June 2019, 35-year-old Eddie Ray-Jr. Johnson and his live-in girlfriend, Elaine Williams — a 34-year-old mother of two and a 14-year member of DPD — went out with some neighbors to grab drinks at a local bar.

"I know a lot of cops aren't going to be happy about this."

When everyone returned to their respective homes in Garden City, Michigan — a suburb of Detroit — the neighbors could hear Johnson and Williams arguing, court documents showed.

Then, just before midnight, police received a report of a shooting at the couple's residence. When police arrived, they found Williams already dead with five gunshot wounds. Johnson had likewise been shot once in the abdomen. Both Williams and Johnson had a blood-alcohol level of at least twice the legal driving limit in Michigan that night.

Eight .40 caliber shell casings — all of which came from Williams' department-issued Smith and Wesson pistol — were eventually recovered near her body, the Detroit News reported. At least one of Williams' two children had also been in the residence at the time of the incident, police said.

Johnson was immediately arrested and then taken to the hospital. In his initial interviews following surgery, Johnson claimed he shot Williams in self-defense after "after she shot him one time," prosecutors said. Johnson was later charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm.

On Friday, prosecutors offered Johnson, now 40, a plea deal that included no jail time but three years of probation. If he were to violate the conditions of his probation, he could face between 57 months and 15 years in prison. In exchange, Johnson, who arrived in the courtroom in a wheelchair and wearing an arm brace, pled no contest to manslaughter.

The sentence is not yet etched in stone as Johnson's plea deal must still be approved by a judge. Johnson's sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 14 with Wayne County Circuit Judge Charise Anderson.

Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy indicated in a statement that the plea deal was the best her office could do with the evidence available. "In this case, where both parties were shot with the same gun, the order of events is open to multiple interpretations," she said. "Considering our burden of proof, we believe this is an appropriate resolution."

Detroit Police Chief James White seemed similarly resigned. "The heart of the Detroit Police Department still breaks at the tragic death of Sergeant Elaine Williams," White said in a statement. "This plea deal is not the outcome that the DPD wanted for Sgt. Williams’ loved ones, but we understand the unique circumstances of this case and therefore accept the Prosecutor’s decision."

Retired Detroit Police Assistant Chief Steve Dolunt, however, expressed "shock" at Johnson's likely jail-free sentence, calling it "awfully lenient." "I don't have all the facts, but probation seems awfully lenient," Dolunt said. "It seems they could've tried to charge him with involuntary manslaughter, at least. I know a lot of cops aren't going to be happy about this."

Johnson's attorney, Raymond Burkett, did not respond to the Detroit News' request for comment.

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Woman pregnant with twins in critical condition after boyfriend allegedly set her on fire; suspect gets $50K bond



A 26-year-old Michigan woman pregnant with twins was set on fire by her boyfriend, according to the Detroit Police Department. The suspect — who has a lengthy rap sheet — could be released from jail if he pays as little as $5,000.

Devonne Marsh, 41, is accused of pouring lighter fluid on his pregnant girlfriend and setting her on fire after the couple got into an argument at their home on Jan. 14.

The unnamed mother-to-be — who is six and a half months pregnant with twins — suffered third-degree burns on 60% of her body and is in critical condition, according to WJBK-TV.

"How do you do this to another human being? I can’t — it’s unimaginable," Detroit Police Commander Michael McGinnis said. "Just incredibly traumatic injuries. I did see pictures and I just — the pain she must be suffering, I can’t imagine."

Police say the woman was initially afraid of naming her alleged attacker for fear of retaliation.

"I want to applaud her for coming forward. I want to again let her know that she is not alone," Sgt. Kyla Williams, who is in charge of the Detroit Police Department's Domestic Violence Unit, said. "She has the men and women of the Detroit Police Department to support her."

McGinnis added, "We just hope that he remains in custody through the trial process so the victim can heal without fear of any kind of retribution from him."

At this point, it is unknown whether the twins will survive, according to police.

"They don’t even have a chance — they don’t have a fighting chance at life," Williams said of the unborn babies.

Devonne Marsh was arrested and charged with kidnapping/abduction, aggravated/felonious assault, and violation of the controlled substance act, according to WDIV-TV.

Marsh is reportedly a parole absconder with a lengthy criminal record with past charges involving drugs, guns, and assault. The suspect allegedly also has warrants for his arrest in Macomb County and a pending case in Livonia.

Despite the callousness of the alleged crimes and his prior violent criminal record, WJBK reported that his bond was set at $50,000 at 10%. Marsh could get out of jail if he pays $5,000.

A spokeswoman from the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office told WJBK that prosecutors don't believe the bond is high enough for Marsh and are filing a motion to increase the bond next week in court.

\u201cI want to applaud her for coming forward. I want to again let her know that she is not alone,\u201d said Sgt. Kyla Williams of Domestic Violence. \n\nAny victim of crime or anyone with information about a crime should feel safe coming forward to police. #OneDetroitpic.twitter.com/2DW5aIWiAl
— Detroit Police News (@Detroit Police News) 1642716011

Detroit police chief blasts left-wing lawmakers for demanding probe on cops' 'excessive force' while ignoring violence against officers



Who's afraid of left-wing U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Detroit? Not the city's police chief, James Craig, that's for sure.

Last year, Craig cautioned Tlaib to mind her tongue after she called the police department's facial-recognition system "bulls**t."

A few months later, Tlaib told the chief that only black analysts should monitor the facial recognition system. But James — who is black — fired back at Tlaib and called her demand "disturbing" and "delusional."

What's up now?

Tlaib is now among a handful of lawmakers calling for a probe into what they characterize as officers' use of "excessive force" on protesters, legal observers, and journalists during civil unrest this summer, the Detroit Free Press reported.

In a letter the lawmakers said protesters have the right to demonstrate without fear of violence, incarceration, or intimidation from law enforcement, the paper said, adding that they said an investigation is needed.

"The lack of accountability and urgency to investigate claims of excessive force and constitutional violations, coupled with a dismissive attitude of the movement for racial justice, has eroded public trust and community relationships," the lawmakers stated, according to the Free Press. "Internal investigations by the Detroit Police Department cannot fix this."

But Craig wasn't having any of it.

"It's unfortunate that these representatives have chosen to repeat a number of false claims in their letter without verifying the facts," he shot back in a statement, the paper said. The chief noted that a civilian oversight body reviews complaints against officers in addition to the department's internal affairs unit and the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, the Free Press said.

"What really disturbs me is that when the protesters assaulted Detroit Police Officers with rocks, railroad spikes, and fireworks, never once did these representatives ask for an independent investigation into their violent criminal activity," James added in his statement, the paper said.

Anything else?

The dust-up comes on the heels of a federal judge ordering a temporary ban on Detroit officers using anti-protest gear — such as shields, batons, tear gas, rubber bullets, and more — against peaceful protesters. James seemed unimpressed with the ruling, saying his officers have been respecting the rights of peaceful protesters and have only moved on non-peaceful individuals.

Of course, the likes of Tlaib and other left-wing officials probably aren't thrilled that James has spoken out against lawless behavior and his officers' response to it with the likes of Fox News' Tucker Carlson:

Detroit Police Chief: We support anger, we don't support 'mob mentality'youtu.be

Judge temporarily bans Detroit police from using anti-protest gear. Chief says this changes nothing.



A federal judge on Friday ordered a temporary ban on Detroit police officers using anti-protest gear — such as shields, batons, tear gas, rubber bullets, and more — against peaceful protesters following a lawsuit from protest group Detroit Will Breathe.

The ruling will prohibit officers from using such crowd control tactics on "peaceful protesters" for a period of at least 14 days.

Detroit Police Chief James Craig says he supports the move, and insists that his officers have only used force when demonstrators were not peaceful.

What are the details?

The organization filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Detroit police habitually used "unnecessary, unreasonable, and excessive force" during protests, which violated demonstrators' constitutional rights.

The order states, "For a period of 14 days, to be extended upon a showing of good cause, but not beyond 28 days absent consent by ... the City of Detroit, including the Detroit Police Department ... is enjoined from: using striking weapons (including, but not limited to, batons and shields), chemical agents (including, but not limited to, tear gas and pepper spray), or rubber bullets against any individual peacefully engaging in protest or demonstrations who does not pose a physical threat to the safety of the public or police."

Other temporarily prohibited actions include "[d]eploying chemical agents or a sound cannon against persons peacefully engaging in protest or demonstrations without an audible warning and a reasonable amount of time to disperse."

Police are also prohibited from placing any demonstrators "in a chokehold," or "ramming with a vehicle any individual attending a demonstration."

The order added, "In the event that Plaintiffs seek relief for an alleged violation of this Order, the City must respond to the motion for relief within 24 hours."

The organization's suit accused police of using forceful tactics to disperse peaceful protesters, including tear gas.

"[Peaceful protesters] have been tear-gassed, pepper-sprayed, beaten, and otherwise subjected to unconstitutional excessive force, shot with rubber bullets ... put in chokeholds ... and arrested en masse without probable cause."

What are people saying about this?

Craig said that the order changes nothing since it focuses on peaceful protesters.

"The judge's order is no different than what we've always done," Craig said. "Every time we've had to use less-than-lethal force, it's been to address violence by protesters, resisting arrest, or when they've tried to take over an intersection in violation of the law. Technically, nothing has changed."

"We're going to continue to do our jobs the way we've done it," he added. "We respect peaceful protesters. We understand the judge's order and we'll make sure the protesters understand if there's any aggression or violation of law, they will get ample notice like we've done in the past."

Craig added that if a protester is, however, resisting arrest or unlawfully acting out, officers will continue to use reasonable force.

"If someone is resisting arrest, or trying to attack our officers, we will use the force that's both reasonable and necessary to overcome the resistance," he explained. "We don't want the protesters injured, and we don't want officers injured, either."

Craig also pointed out that officers have not engaged in the use of chokeholds, considering that such practices are "already banned in Detroit," and questioned why the tactic was banned by the order to begin with.

"[T]hey're already banned in Detroit except in life-or-death situations," he reasoned.

Craig also promised that protests will be filmed for posterity.

"We want to document everything. When we give orders to disperse when people are blocking an intersection, and they refuse repeated orders, we want all that documented when we make arrests."

According to The Detroit News, city attorney Lawrence Garcia said that the suit was welcomed, because "it allowed the city to file a counter-suit."

Garcia also expressed his disappointment over the ruling, saying, "We are disappointed the order was entered without an evidentiary hearing because we believe when the evidence is heard, the police actions to date will be deemed justified."

Detroit Will Breathe lauded the move, and in a Friday statement, its attorney said that the group is "relieved" to be able to commemorate its 100th day of protest "safely and peacefully, without fear or violent retaliation or unlawful arrest by police."

The group is expected to seek a permanent injunction as the temporary restraining order is only in effect for 14 days.

Police officer seen in shocking video fatally shooting dog in its own yard will not be reprimanded



A Detroit police officer who fatally shot and killed a dog after it attacked her K-9 partner will not be reprimanded. The disturbing incident was caught on video and has since gone viral on social media.

Police officers from the 9th Precinct were searching for an illegal firearm that was allegedly tossed into a yard while a suspect was fleeing from authorities. Police allegedly asked the homeowner to secure the dog in the yard while they conducted their search in the area, according to the Detroit Free Press.

A Ring doorbell camera captured the moment on Aug. 3 that a Detroit K-9 officer and a dog got into a tussle, despite both animals being separated by a fence. The dog, which was in its own yard, allegedly latched itself onto the K-9's snout though the fence. The police officer did have her dog on a leash, but was not able to separate the two canines.

The police officer then took out her gun and fatally shot the dog, which Detroit Police claim to have been a pit bull. Graphic footage shows the wounded dog spastically twitching after being shot.

"Her partner was being attacked and we demand that our officers protect not only themselves but their partners and citizens. At this point it was a clear and present danger; her dog was being viciously harmed," Detroit Police Commander Darin Szilagyi said on Friday. "It's unfortunate it came to this, we don't like to see any animal hurt."

The K-9 officer suffered extensive injuries, including a large rip through the skin of its upper snout and puncture wounds on its upper jawlines, according to the police. The police dog will undergo tests and evaluations to determine whether it is competent to return to police work.

The officer who shot the dog is back on duty after completing counseling. She will not face any consequences for the shooting.

"No matter what, when force is used on a person or animal, it is ugly. No one likes it, I don't like it, I've been doing this for 25 years and I don't like it," Szilagyi said, defending the police officer. "But unfortunately it's necessary if you have life or death situations, and this was a life or death situation, that is the option that a police officer has to use, and I commend the officer for making a decision and coming back to work and taking care of her partner."

"I'm a dog lover, I own several dogs, I have a responsibility to protect the public from my animals, just like anyone else," Szilagyi said. "Keep your dogs in the backyards and this won't be an issue."

Unsuccessful Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro shared the unsettling video on Twitter, where it has over 3.5 million views. Castro called for the police officer to be "fired and prosecuted."

(Content Warning: Extremely disturbing and graphic video)

A Detroit police officer shot someone’s dog that posed no threat inside its own fence after he lost control of his… https://t.co/ngNiSd8gms
— Julián Castro (@Julián Castro)1598069193.0