A former Michigan police officer has been sentenced to just over a year in federal prison for using excessive force on a 19-year-old suspect during a booking process at a Warren detention facility last year. Matthew Rodriguez, 49, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law, admitting to the brutal assault of Jaquwan Smith, which was captured on jail surveillance cameras. The incident, which occurred on June 13, 2023, ended Rodriguez’s 14-year career with the Warren Police Department.
According to court records, Rodriguez was responsible for fingerprinting and photographing Smith, who was facing multiple felony charges at the time. As tensions escalated between the officer and the teenager, the interaction quickly turned violent. Surveillance footage shows Rodriguez striking Smith multiple times before slamming his head against the floor. Despite the presence of two other officers, the assault continued until Rodriguez threw Smith into a jail cell, leaving him with visible bruises and cuts on his face.
In his guilty plea, Rodriguez admitted not only to using excessive force but also to falsifying official reports in an attempt to cover up his actions. He confessed to making misleading statements and omitting critical details in his report, including the fact that Smith was not resisting arrest or attempting to flee. This admission was a key element in the case, as Rodriguez acknowledged that his actions were unjustified and constituted an abuse of power.
The sentencing has been seen as a victory for accountability in law enforcement. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division emphasized that Rodriguez’s actions violated the trust placed in him as an officer, stating, “A badge is not a license to answer verbal insults with physical violence.” U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison echoed this sentiment, adding that the physical abuse of detainees erodes public trust in law enforcement. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Detroit office, with assistance from the Warren Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit.
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