Detroit Police Suspends Officer Who Struck Man In His 70s, Chief Says

DETROIT — A Detroit Police officer has been suspended after striking a man Sunday evening at a Midtown business, according to Detroit Police Chief James White.

White said officers were responding to a Midtown business for a disturbance caused by a man in his 70s, who police believe was intoxicated.

When officers arrived at the business, they asked the man to leave the area, but he refused and struck an officer on the head, White said.

The officer then responded by striking the man "in the area of the jaw" that caused the man to fall and hit his head on the ground, White said.

The officer's body camera showed the officer tried numerous times to get the person who police believes caused the disturbance to leave the business, White said.

"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 Homicide Task Force with Michigan State Police leading the investigation, while the Detroit police Investigation Unit will also conduct an inquiry simultaneously.

White said the investigations will include "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."

Police did not identify the business where the altercation happened or explain the disturbance the man was causing inside the place.

White said he plans to provide more information about the incident in the upcoming days.