Judge Reduces Bond For Detroit Police Officer Indicted In Alleged Murder Plot Cover Up
DETROIT (WWJ) - A judge has reduced bond for a Detroit police officer charged with lying to investigators during a homicide probe.
Elijah Lately, a four-year Detroit police veteran, was suspended without pay last week after being indicted on two counts of lying to a police officer in a violent crime investigation. He was ordered held on a $400,000 bond but on Wednesday, Judge Timothy Kenny reduced the bond to $100,000 cash or surety with GPS tether.
Kenny said Lately must remain in his home except for attending court or meeting with his attorney. He's also allowed to attend church on Sunday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. He's due back in court for a final conference on October 10, with trial set to begin on November 30.
Lately was identified as a potential witness in the April 23 shooting death of Brandon Rice on the front porch of his home in the Detroit enclave of Highland Park.
Lately, who was interviewed by state police and Detroit homicide detectives, "knew of the plan to kill Rice" but denied having any information about the homicide, the prosecutor's office said in a release.
The alleged trigger man, Dmarco Hoskins, is charged with murder, conspiracy and witness intimidation in Rice's death. Rice was set to testify against Hoskins in a separate case.
There was bad history between Rice and Hoskins — including an incident in March where Rice was shot and wounded, police said. Hoskins, who is currently being held without bond, fled and was indicted on assault with intent to murder.
"The purpose of having Brandon Rice killed was twofold," assistant prosecutor Anna Posigian has said. "There was an ongoing dispute between Mr. Hoskins and Mr. Rice, but … but more importantly, Brandon Rice was killed in order to prevent him from testifying against Dmarco Hoskins in trial."
Lately "had knowledge of the conspiracy" to kill Rice and "did nothing about it," said assistant prosecutor Robert Moran. "And once he was interviewed about the homicide, he lied to police."
If convicted, Lately faces up to four years in prison.
