Detroit Councilman Cushingberry Takes Plea Deal In Traffic Stop

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A Detroit City Council member who was found with marijuana and alcohol in his car during a traffic stop has accepted a plea deal in his traffic case and has paid a $95 fine.

George Cushingberry's lawyer made the payment Monday in the case that's based on a Jan. 7 stop.

The Detroit News reports that lawyer Rohn Mitchell said he and a prosecutor worked out a deal for Cushingberry to plead guilty to driving up to 5 miles above the speed limit. In exchange, authorities dropped a charge of failing to signal for a turn.

Police said they noticed a strong smell of marijuana, a half cup of alcohol, and an open rum bottle after stopping Cushingberry. His passenger had a medical marijuana license, and Cushingberry was not given a sobriety test.

Cushingberry said he wasn't drunk, and an empty liquor bottle found in the backseat of his car was old.

The councilman says he was racially profiled, pulled over for "driving while black."

Detroit Police Chief James Craig says City Council President Pro Tem George Cushingberry, Jr., appears to have gotten "special treatment" when police pulled him over earlier this month.

Cushingberry said he'd been pulled over for "driving while black."

Detroit Police Chief James Craig told reporters that  it appears Cushingberry got "special treatment" when police pulled him over.  A sergeant was disciplined for failing to inform his supervisors of the incident.

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