Possession of medicine wasn’t the one crime allegedly committed during a recent Detroit traffic stop. One in every of the arresting officers was caught allegedly stealing $600 from a suspect’s wallet — by his own body camera. WXYZ reports that on March 7, 2025, three law enforcement officials observed a suspected drug deal. They pulled over the automotive that was involved, searched the automotive, and located drugs, police say. The cops then arrested the 2 occupants of the vehicle. Thus far, so good.
Nonetheless, when the feminine suspect was released, she claimed $600 was missing from her purse. She filed a grievance, which began an investigation. While civil forfeiture is an enormous problem, that just isn’t what happened here. Police had no record of the cash of their report, nor was any money submitted as evidence. A review of the body cam footage clearly shows what happened to the cash.
“Our [internal affairs] lieutenant took a have a look at the video and immediately recognized that we had a criminal act here,” Commander Michael McGinnis told WXYZ. “You’ll be able to see on camera an envelope of cash contained in that purse. One minute you see it, next second it’s gone.” The officer was then arrested on the sixth Precinct. Police don’t suspect that the opposite two officers involved within the initial arrest had anything to do with or knew in regards to the theft.
The wheels of justice
This is way from the primary time a body cam has caught a cop breaking the law, comparable to fleeing a traffic stop, drag racing other cops, or covering up excessive force. What makes this case much more remarkable is that the officer’s own body cam provided the evidence used against him. There are many cases of cops turning off body cams to cover up bad behavior, but this one didn’t even try, resulting in a seemingly open-and-shut case.
Why, then, has the officer not been identified? After his arrest a month ago, he was suspended with pay while the investigation continues. Why is he still on the payroll? For that matter, why does he still have his job? Everyone ought to be innocent until proven guilty, police included, but when the body cam evidence is obvious enough for McGinnis to flat out tell WXYZ, “It was stolen,” why has there been no further motion on this? Simply because someone allegedly bought drugs does not imply they also needs to get robbed, and by the police, no less.
This Article First Appeared At www.jalopnik.com
