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topicnews · September 27, 2024

High-ranking state police official with ties to suspect’s sister intervened in case: lawsuit

High-ranking state police official with ties to suspect’s sister intervened in case: lawsuit

Two Michigan State Police officers allege in a lawsuit that a high-ranking Michigan State Police official intervened in a case in which she had “personal ties to the suspect’s sister” and that she pressured the Shiawassee County prosecutor , to file criminal charges against the officers for using excessive force during an arrest, even though internal affairs investigators found no evidence of wrongdoing.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Eaton County Circuit Court on behalf of troopers Cody Lukas and Justin Simpson, alleges that Lt. Col. Aimee Brimacombe, the state police chief deputy director, “conducted a secret investigation into troopers Lukas and Simpson on the based on unfounded allegations of misconduct.”

Lukas and Simpson were involved in the arrest of a “non-compliant suspect,” Jacob Long, on August 24, 2022, the lawsuit says. Although an MSP internal affairs lieutenant testified that there was no evidence that the two officers did anything wrong in the arrest, Long settled a $1 million excessive force lawsuit.

Tuesday’s filing alleged that Brimacombe used her influence to negotiate a civil settlement to make the two officers look bad and enrich her friend’s brother. The lawsuit also accuses Brimacombe of coercing Shiawassee County Prosecutor Scott Koerner to file criminal charges against the officers.

“Although the initial internal investigation revealed no grounds for criminal charges, Brimacombe allegedly pressured the Shiawassee County District Attorney to file charges,” the lawsuit states. “…As a result of defendant’s secret meetings with the elected prosecutor, plaintiffs were criminally charged for their involvement in (Long’s) arrest.”

The Shiawassee County District Attorney’s Office did not respond to a request for comment Friday. Michigan State Police spokeswoman Shanon Banner declined to comment because the case is ongoing.

The lawsuit seeks more than $25,000 in damages for “emotional distress, loss of income and damage to her personal and professional reputation,” the officers’ attorney, William Patrick O’Keefe, said in a statement. “These troopers did their jobs, enforced the law and protected the public. Instead, they were subjected to baseless prosecution because of one individual’s abuse of power and personal connections.”

The charges were dropped

After the two officers arrested Long, Lukas was charged with misconduct in office, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, and both officers were charged with assault and battery.

Brimacombe testified during Lukas’ preliminary hearing on May 22, 2023 in the 66th District Court of A Coruña that she was friends with Long’s sister, Tiffany Homola. After Long’s arrest, Homola contacted Brimacombe via Facebook and the two women later discussed the incident in a phone call, the lawsuit says.

“Homola informed (Brimacombe) that Homola’s brother (Jacob Long) was being attacked by several police officers,” the lawsuit states. “(The police officers) later discovered that the defendant and her ex-husband were close friends of Ms. Homola.”

Brimacombe lodged a complaint against the two police officers with MSP’s Professional Standards Section. State police internal investigators attempted to interview Long during the internal investigation, “but Mr. Long was uncooperative and refused to provide a statement,” the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit alleges that Brimacombe never told MSP internal affairs investigators that she contacted Long’s sister after the arrest.

According to the lawsuit, the wife of a state trooper who works in the Shiawassee County District Attorney’s Office said District Attorney Koerner “stated that he was pressured by ‘Lansing’ to file criminal charges against plaintiffs.” Prior to filing criminal charges against plaintiffs (the employees), “Brimacombe witnessed (Brimacombe’s) meeting with District Attorney Koerner in his office behind closed doors.”

The lawsuit alleges that Brimacombe “had personal relationships with the suspect’s sister and used her influence to manipulate the investigation, resulting in the officers being charged with misconduct and assault.” Both officers have been suspended pending the outcome of the prosecution – Lukas without pay and Simpson with pay – causing significant emotional and financial hardship.”

During Lukas’ preliminary interview, State Police Lt. Michael Dillon testified that during the internal investigation into Lukas and Simpson, “neither he nor his investigators found any evidence that Plaintiff Lukas kicked the suspect in the head (used excessive force ),” the lawsuit says.

“At the conclusion of the investigation, the district court determined that probable cause was lacking and the felony charge against plaintiff Lukas was dismissed,” the lawsuit states. “But even after the felony was dismissed, plaintiffs continued to be charged with assault, battery and battery.”

On July 6, 2023, Koerner moved to dismiss the remaining charges. That request was granted four days later, “and the lawsuit now seeks to be held accountable for the damage done to the careers and reputations of Lukas and Simpson,” said plaintiff’s attorney O’Keefe.

“This case highlights a deeply worrying abuse of power within the MSP,” the lawyer said.

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