2 Detroit Cops Charged With Misconduct, Theft
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Two Detroit police officers have been charged in connection with the theft of money from people stopped on the streets.
Prosecutors 28-year-old Charles Lynem and 31-year-old Chancellor Searcy were arraigned Tuesday morning on charges of embezzlement, larceny, misconduct and falsely reporting a felony. Searcy also is charged with failing to uphold the law.
Between March 2013 and September 2014 money was taken from one man arrested at a gas station and from two other men during pat downs, according to prosecutors. Circumstances were allegedly fabricated in another man's arrest.
Lynem and Searcy were partners in the Detroit Police Departments Tactical Crimes United when the alleged misconduct occurred.
"Whenever an officer is accused of criminal misconduct, certainly it's a dark day for the department," Police Chief James Craig told reporters. "These allegations should not be a reflection of every Detroit police officer."
Craig is calling it a "dark day" for the department.
"When officers make bad decisions to violate the law -- to enforce the law --that clearly is a problem," said Craig.
Each has been suspended and released on a $10,000 bond pending a Nov. 3 probable cause hearing.
Their arrests followed a yearlong investigation.
"There was wrongful conduct surrounding the detention, frisk, seizure of property and the arrest of the suspect," prosecutors said in a release.
In another instance, a 28-year-old man filed a complaint Aug. 4, 2014, at a police precinct after money was taken from him on the city's west side. Six days later, money was taken from another man's pocket during a pat down. That man also filed a complaint.
Prosecutors also allege that circumstances around a Sept. 27, 2014, arrest of a 41-year-old man on the west side for carrying a concealed weapon were "fabricated."
Searcy and Lynem were suspended with pay about a year ago. They were suspended without pay following Tuesday's charges.
"It tarnishes the badge," Craig said of the allegations. "Our men and women who wear the uniform work extremely hard and the vast majority just go out and serve this community with distinction and with honor.
"When someone from the family decides to go in a different direction it's troubling for many of our members."
Searcy and Lynem turned themselves in for arrest Tuesday morning. They were released on personal bond pending Nov. 3 probable cause hearings. Preliminary examinations were scheduled for Nov. 10.
No attorneys were listed in court documents for either officer.
The Associated Press left a message seeking comment from the police union.
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