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Michigan State Police request to review ELPD officer in excessive force complaint

June 12, 2020
<p>An East Lansing police car is pictured on July 6th, 2017.</p>

An East Lansing police car is pictured on July 6th, 2017.

Photo by Jon Famurewa | The State News

Michigan State Police submitted a warrant request to the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office June 10, asking for the review of East Lansing Police Department Officer Andrew Stephenson's actions, according to a statement from the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office.

The warrant request involves the review of Stephenson's actions regarding his interactions with Anthony Loggins in December of 2019.

"A warrant request is the standard material that police submit to a prosecutor's office for a criminal investigation, requesting a review for potential criminal charges," said the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office Community Outreach Coordinator Scott Hughes. "It will typically include a police report and other evidentiary materials such as photos, videos, lab reports, etc. I have not seen this particular police report but that is standard procedure."

Last month, state police concluded an investigation into two incidents involving Stephenson's use of force. The investigation resulted in an exonerated disposition.

Last week, the City of East Lansing requested a use of force review from the prosecutor's office. The review involved the December incident, which led to a use of force complaint against ELPD.

According to the statement, a warrant request was submitted and issued charging Loggins with resisting and obstructing a police officer from a traffic stop Dec. 29, 2019.

This warrant request was based on the police report without the notification that Loggins had submitted a use of force complaint, according to the statement.

"Our office requested the body camera video on May 29, 2020 and upon a review of all the circumstances, determined that the charges would be dismissed and a dismissal was requested on June 3, 2020," Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon said in a statement.

In terms of the warrant request reviewing Stephenson's actions, the prosecutor's office has filed a petition with the attorney general's office to have the request reviewed by a special prosecutor.

The statement explains that the prosecutor's office will consider referring cases to a special prosecutor to review use of force cases involving potential charges against a police officer, according to the statement. This can "provide an extra layer of credibility and public confidence," the release stated.

"This case helps highlight the need to have a heightened level of review in cases involving resisting and obstructing warrant requests, whether or not a use of force complaint against the officer exists," Siemon said in the statement. "...Therefore, the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office will be developing and implementing a heightened review of resisting and obstructing warrant requests and looking into the circumstances in more detail before authorizing charges."

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