LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Michigan Legal professional Normal Dana Nessel filed an enchantment of the November dismissal of legal expenses in opposition to a Michigan State Police trooper and two Saginaw law enforcement officials Friday.
The legal professional normal charged MSP trooper Zachary Tebedo and Saginaw Cops Jordan Engelhart and Dominic Vasquez with one depend every of Willful Neglect of Obligation in August 2022 following a March 2022 site visitors cease the place now-former state trooper Bram Schroeder assaulted a handcuffed man whereas making an attempt to arrest him.
Schroeder pulled a person over for failure to sign and dashing, and the person appeared intoxicated and was uncooperative with the trooper’s makes an attempt to arrest him. Schroeder then punched the person within the head whereas he was handcuffed, knocking him unconscious.
Schroeder pulled a person over for failure to sign and dashing, and the person appeared intoxicated and was uncooperative with the trooper’s makes an attempt to arrest him. (FILE/WLNS)
EMS arrived, evaluated the person, after which left the scene. Schroeder then assaulted the person once more whereas placing him at the back of a patrol automotive. He was initially charged with one depend of misconduct in workplace and one depend of aggravated assault and pled no contest. He’s at present out on probation.
Throughout each incidents, the Legal professional Normal says Tebedo, Engelhart, and Vasquez had been current and did not intervene within the assaults as was required underneath legislation. She charged them with one depend every of willful neglect of obligation 5 months after the preliminary incident.
These expenses in opposition to the three had been dismissed by a choose in November 2024, who dominated that the officer’s failure to intervene in the usage of extreme drive didn’t represent legal expenses.
Nessel appealed this dismissal Friday.
“Tebedo and Officers Engelhart and Vasquez had a duty based on the U.S. Constitution as well as the Michigan Constitution to protect [the victim] from further harm while he was handcuffed and in their custody,” Nessel argued. “At a minimum, the allegations and the law cited by the People raise a question of fact for a jury of the officer’s peers to decide whether they have committed the crime of Willful Neglect of Duty.”
