FLINT, Mich. (WLNS) — Michigan State Police officers from the Flint post are facing assault and battery charges after allegedly using excessive force against a bicyclist in Avoss.
Troopers Ryan Fitzko, Cody Lucas and Justin Simpson of MSP Flint Post were arraigned in 66th District Court. Shiawassee County District Attorney Scott Kerner charged each with assault and battery, and Lucas was charged with an additional charge of misconduct in office, a felony.
All three are on hold pending “the disposition of the criminal case and any resulting administrative investigation,” officials said.
MSP captured video of the incident on a dash cam available for viewing here (warning: graphic content).
In the footage, police officers try to stop a man, whose name has not been released, for riding a bicycle in the middle of the road the wrong way.
A man continues to ride his bike after being asked to stop. That’s when the military allegedly started using excessive force to calm them down and detain them.
The MSP said officers found the drugs on the man after searching his rucksack. The full report is available available here.
“The use of excessive force by a Michigan State Police officer against anyone is unacceptable and inexcusable,” Col. Joe Gasper, director of MSP, said in a news release. “In this department, we have zero tolerance for police officers who commit criminal acts. Police service is the privilege of those sworn to uphold the Constitution and protect the safety of the public, and every officer and those who lead the police force must be held accountable for their own conduct and that of those around them.”