Detroit police officer may face charges in incident
$100M lawsuit filed
(photo: Detroit News)
- Transcript from Connie Chung Tonight with Geoffrey Fieger and the alledged victim -
Source: www.clickondetroit.com - 1/10/03
Attorney Geoffrey Fieger held a press conference at 3:00 p.m. Friday to announce the filing of a $100 million Civil Rights lawsuit against the City of Detroit for the amputation of his client, Joni Gullas' finger.
Officer Anthony Johnson used a knife during a struggle with Gullas, 45, on Sunday in a parking lot near the Huddle Lounge at Eight Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue, according to police.
Gullas reportedly lost her finger when Johnson used a knife to cut off her coat so he could handcuff her, according to police. Johnson has been put on desk duty during the investigation.
Source: David Shepardson / The Detroit News - 1/8/03
A nine-year veteran of the Detroit Police Department could face criminal charges after he cut off a 45-year-old woman's fingertip while trying to arrest her.
Officer Anthony Johnson, of the 9th (Gratiot) Precinct, was part of an undercover unit that was investigating a string of burglaries along East Eight Mile. At 2:45 a.m. Sunday, Johnson and his partner stopped Joni Gullas of Detroit, who was sitting in a car.
Johnson said he used a 4-inch utility knife to try to cut off her sleeve so he could handcuff her as she was struggling, said Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown.
"The department has no policies and procedures that would cause an officer to use a knife to make an arrest," Brown said. "We don't issue knives. We don't conduct any training that would involve a knife in the arrest of a subject."
Brown's office forwarded a warrant request to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, which hasn't decided yet on what if any charges Johnson might face. Johnson is assigned to desk duty while the matter is under criminal and department review.
The department may not issue knives, but many officers carry them, said David Mahalab, an officer in the 6th (Plymouth) Precinct and an outspoken critic of the department.
"Most officers carry knives, but not to use as weapons," said Mahalab, who carries a knife with a 3-inch blade on duty. "They are used for cutting and opening things. It's not a secret weapon that police officers use."
The incident will be discussed by department executives and Justice Department officials, Brown said.
The Justice Department launched
a civil rights investigation of the Detroit police department in December
2000 and found evidence of excessive use of force and mistreatment of prisoners.
The Police Department has agreed to make numerous changes in response to
the dozens of specific concerns.