Eastern Michigan Provost Suspended After Cops Say He Drove Naked While Masturbating

DEARBORN, MI — A Dearborn man who is an associate provost at Eastern Michigan University was arrested Wednesday after police said he drove through the city "without any clothing while touching himself."

Michael Tew, 62, was charged with one misdemeanor count of aggravated indecent exposure and one felony count of indecent exposure with sexually delinquent person notice. He was placed in jail and given a $20,000 bond.

Tew is listed as an Eastern Michigan University associate provost and associate vice president for academic programs and services. He was suspended indefinitely by the university, according to Walter Kraft, Vice President for Communications for the university.

A probable cause conference for Tew is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 23, with a preliminary exam on Friday, Sept. 30.

Police said they received a cellphone video of the man driving a black Jeep Wrangler westbound on Michigan Avenue near Miller Street while naked and touching himself inappropriately.

"This sort of conduct is illegal and will not be tolerated in Dearborn," police Chief Issa Shahin said. "I’d like to commend the concerned citizen for documenting the incident and bringing it to our attention."

"We are troubled and concerned about this reported incident," Kraft said in a statement on Tew's arrest. "The individual involved has been a faculty member and administrator at the University since 1989. Upon learning about this matter from Dearborn Police yesterday, the University took immediate action and suspended the individual indefinitely, pending the outcome of the investigation and legal proceedings. They are not permitted to come to campus during the suspension. We are not aware of any inappropriate conduct or actions of this nature related to their work on campus."