Former Wayne County Police Officer Admits To Pistol Whipping Man

WAYNE COUNTY, MI — A former police officer in Wayne County had pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge accusing him of excessive use of force, the U.S. Attorney's office said Friday.

Ryan McInerney, 44, pleaded guilty on Friday in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan to using excessive force against a civilian arrestee and violating the arrestee’s civil rights, prosecutors said.

“Officers are supposed to serve as role model for upholding the law,” Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Eric Dreiband said. “It is disheartening to hear of a police officer taking such actions. The Justice Department works hard to ensure that officers who take the law into their own hands see their day in court.”

McInerney was an officer with the Hamtramck Police Department in June 2014 when he pulled over a man and pistol-whipped him several times in the face using his gun, according to court documents. Prosecutors said Friday that McInerney hit the man "without justification."

The man had several broken bones in his face and facial cuts that required stitches due to the incident, prosecutors said.

McInerney admitted that he intentionally memorialized a fake story of what happened in a Hamtramck Police Department use of force form in order to cover up the assault and impede investigation, according to prosecutors.

McInerney also admitted to pistol-whipping another person after assaulting the first victim, prosecutors said, breaking that person's teeth.

“Most police officers honorably serve and uphold their mission to protect the citizens of Michigan, but this is a rare example of an officer who has fallen far below his duty,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan. “Officer McInerney abused the power of his badge by violating the civil rights of two Michigan citizens, and for that he deserves federal prison time.”

The former officer faces a potential 36-month prison sentence upon his April 19 sentencing, prosecutors said.