Current:Home > StocksDetroit-area officer sentenced to prison for assaulting man after his arrest -AssetPath
Detroit-area officer sentenced to prison for assaulting man after his arrest
View
Date:2025-04-16 11:45:11
DETROIT (AP) — A suburban Detroit police officer who punched a young Black man in the face and slammed his head to the ground was sentenced Tuesday to a year in federal prison for a civil rights violation.
“I wonder what would have happened if the cameras weren’t working in that booking room,” U.S. District Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey said.
Matthew Rodriguez, a police officer for 30 years, has acknowledged using unreasonable force against the 19-year-old man while processing him at the Warren jail following an arrest in June 2023. He apparently was provoked by a verbal insult.
Rodriguez was fired by the Warren police department, which released video of the incident.
Grey sentenced him to a year and a day in prison. A 366-day sentence triggers credit for good behavior in the federal system, which means Rodriguez will likely spend less than a year in custody.
“Physical abuse of detainees is completely unacceptable and undermines public confidence in the integrity of law enforcement,” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said.
Grey noted that Rodriguez even asked the man to apologize for the insult after he roughed him up.
“Whether you have power or not, humanity must be respected,” the judge said.
Rodriguez did not speak in court. His work history included using unnecessary force against a student at a Warren school in 2017, the judge said.
Defense attorney Steve Fishman tried to keep Rodriguez out of prison. He said he doubted that a prison sentence would deter other officers from committing misconduct, noting the weekend handcuffing of NFL star Tyreek Hill in Miami and the May arrest of pro golfer Scottie Scheffler in Louisville, Kentucky.
“I think the judge was fair,” Fishman said outside court.
___
Follow Ed White at https://twitter.com/edwritez
veryGood! (7)
Related
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- You Need to See JoJo Siwa’s NSFW Cover
- Judge Judy's Nighttime Activity With Husband Jerry Sheindlin Is Very on Brand
- Julianne Hough Shares Surprising Reaction to Run-In With Ex Brooks Laich and His New Girlfriend
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- See Selena Gomez Return to Her Magical Roots in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’s Spellbinding Trailer
- Michael Strahan reveals he's a grandfather after the birth of his first grandchild
- Key takeaways from AP’s interview with Francis Ford Coppola about ‘Megalopolis’
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Opinion: Tyreek Hill is an imperfect vessel who is perfect for this moment
Ranking
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Meet Libra, the Zodiac's charming peacemaker: The sign's personality traits, dates
- Pac-12 Conference files lawsuit against Mountain West over potential 'poaching fee'
- When does 'Grotesquerie' premiere? Date, time, where to watch new show featuring Travis Kelce
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Chick-fil-A makes pimento cheese available as standalone side for a limited time
- Horoscopes Today, September 23, 2024
- Minnesota woman gets 20 years in real estate agent’s killing as part of plea deal
Recommendation
The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
Derek Hough Shares Family Plans With Miracle Wife Hayley Erbert
Lady Gaga reveals surprise album and fans only have to wait until Friday for 'Harlequin'
Will Hurricane Helene emerge like a monster from the Gulf?
The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
Pac-12 files federal lawsuit against Mountain West over $43 million in ‘poaching’ penalties
Brett Favre reveals Parkinson's diagnosis during congressional hearing
Turn out the blue light: Last full-size Kmart store in continental US to close