KYM L.

WORTHY COUNTY OF WAYNE FRANK MURPHY HALL OF JUSTICE

PROSECUTING ATTORNEY OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY 1441 ST. ANTOINE STREET
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-2302

Press Release Contact: Maria Miller

December 20, 2017 Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office
Seven Pages Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
(313) 224-5817
(313) 213-0457
For Immediate Release mmiller@waynecounty.com

Prosecutor Worthy Charges Police Officers with

Murder, Misconduct and Other Charges

Statement of Prosecutor Worthy

Overwhelmingly most police officers are good, hard working, and honest people. However,
the four officers that we charge today in four separate incidents allegedly killed one young
man riding on an ATV and brutally beat down three others. This behavior cannot be
tolerated and seriously undermines the good work that most police officers do on a daily
basis.

Michigan State Trooper Charged in ATV Fatal Crash

Michigan State Police Trooper Mark Bessner, 43, (DOB: 03/27/1974) has been charged in
connection with a fatal ATV crash that killed Damon Grimes, 15, of Detroit. On August 26,
2017, Bessner was the passenger in a Michigan State Police (MSP) patrol car when
Bessner and his partner observed a four-wheel All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) being driven by
Grimes down Reno and Fairmont Streets in Detroit. When the troopers attempted to stop
Grimes for a traffic violation, a pursuit ensued.

At approximately 5:31 p.m. on Rossini Street, it is alleged that Bessner unnecessarily

deployed his Taser at Grimes from the MSP patrol car while Grimes was riding at
approximately 35 to 40 miles per hour. Grimes was struck by the Taser’s prongs and then

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his ATV crashed into a truck parked on the street in the 14500 block of Rossini. Grimes was
transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead at 5:58 p.m.
Defendant Bessner has been charged with Second Degree Murder, which carries a
maximum penalty of any term of years up to life in prison.*
Bessner is charged with one count of Involuntary Manslaughter (Misdemeanor
Manslaughter), which carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison.*
Bessner is also charged with one count of Involuntary Manslaughter (Gross Negligence)
which carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison.*
Bessner will be arraigned on December 21, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in 36th District Court.

*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Police Officer Lonnie Wade Charged

in Assault of Detroit Man at Meijer
Detroit Police Officer Lonnie Wade, 65, has been charged in connection with the assault of
David Bivins, 23, of Detroit, at a Meijer Store in Detroit. On the evening of October 10,
2017, Officer Wade was in a DPD uniform while working secondary employment* at a Meijer
store located in the 1300 block of Eight Mile in Detroit. At approximately 8:40 p.m., Wade
approached Bivins in the vestibule of the store to inquire about shopping bags in Bivins’ cart.
It is alleged that when Wade asked to see a receipt, Bivins indicated that his girlfriend had
it. Shortly thereafter, his girlfriend showed Wade the receipt. Upset by the encounter, she
then took the bags and walked back into the store to return the items.

Wade remained with Bivins in the vestibule and the two had a verbal exchange. Bivins
pulled out a cell phone, then Wade came over to him and grabbed his wrist, telling him he
was under arrest. Bivins pulled away to resist Wade’s attempts to place him under arrest.
Wade quickly deployed his baton and began striking Bivins. Bivins does not show any
aggressive behavior in the video, even when he is struck by the baton.

The two men moved from the store to the parking lot where Bivins continued to pull away
from Wade and ask why he was under arrest. Wade tells Bivins he is being arrested for
Disorderly Conduct. It is alleged that he struck Bivens in the head and face with his baton
causing Bivins to suffer serious injuries. The incident was video recorded by a civilian
witness and observed by other civilian onlookers.

Defendant Wade has been charged with Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm,
Felonious Assault, and two counts of Misconduct in Office.**

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Wade will be arraigned on December 21, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in 36th District Court.

* DPD Secondary Employment -

103.5 – 1 Purpose

The Detroit City Council has enacted an ordinance that authorizes the establishment of a Secondary Employment Program for sworn
members of the Detroit Police Department (DPD). The purpose of this policy is to provide rules, regulations, and procedures for the
implementation of the Secondary Employment Program in accordance with Section 43-2-11 et seq., of the Detroit City Code. Members
must be remindful that working the Secondary Employment Program is that of a privilege and not a right.

103.5 – 3.2 – Definition – Secondary Employment

Employment of a law enforcement nature in which vested police powers is a condition of employment whereby the member is employed
and paid by a secondary employer for work at an assigned location within the City of Detroit pursuant to an approved agreement that is
managed through the department’s Secondary Employment Office.

**The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Warrant Denial in the Fatal Shooting of Raynard Burton

Facts of the Fatal Shooting

On February 13, 2017 at approximately after 1:00 p.m., DPD officers Jerold Blanding, 47,
and his partner Michael Davis, were on patrol in the 10th precinct in full uniform and a fully
marked scout car. They observed a speeding green Pontiac Bonneville on Broadstreet
Avenue and then pursued it, intending to perform a traffic stop. During the brief pursuit, the
vehicle pulled away from them, turning onto Elmhurst. From a distance, officers saw the
vehicle crash near Elmhurst Auto, a business on the corner of Broadstreet and Elmhurst.

As Officer Blanding and Officer Davis approached the corner, the sole occupant of the car,
later identified as Raynard Burton, 19, of Detroit, ran from the driver’s side of the vehicle.
Both officers exited the scout car. Burton ignored the officers’ commands to stop and ran
east on Elmhurst, past an alley, and then south on North Martindale. Davis lost sight of
Burton when he ran between two houses towards Webb and Otsego.

While Officer Davis was on foot, he saw Blanding drive past him in the scout car,
southbound on North Martindale. Davis heard Blanding over his prep radio indicate that
Burton was running south so Davis ran in that direction, but lost sight of Burton. Davis
proceeded towards Webb, and heard Blanding say he was right behind him, at Otsego and
Webb. Davis continued to run toward the location and, as he approached the corner of
Otsego and Webb, he heard a single gunshot. He did not hear any words exchanged
between Blanding and Burton when the shot went off.

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Officer Davis found Officer Blanding and Burton in the rear of a vacant house in the 4760
block of Webb. There was a collapsed garage and a great deal of overgrown brush and
debris. He was informed by Officer Blanding that he and Burton wrestled and that Burton
tried to grab for his gun as he was trying to holster it and that Blanding discharged one shot.
After the shooting, Blanding radioed to the precinct that shots were fired and that medics
were needed.

Officer Davis observed Burton conscious, lying on his back on the ground without a shirt,
with an apparent gunshot wound to his midsection. Officer Blanding told Officer Davis that
Burton ran because he did not want to go to jail. Burton remained on the ground and said he
was tired from running. Burton’s shirt and hoodie were found on the ground at the crime
scene.

Burton was patted down for weapons and none were found. EMS was called and Davis left
the rear of the house so he could guide EMS to the specific location when they arrived on
scene, since the houses on the block lacked house numbers.

Investigation of Officer Blanding’s Weapon

The investigation of Blanding’s weapon confirmed that the count was consistent with only
one shot being fired. Evidence technicians collected and placed on evidence a WIN .40
caliber fired cartridge case, as well as the decedent’s cell phone. The fired cartridge case
was located in a pile of leaves and small pieces of brush by DPD K-9 Bozy. No other
firearms or fired evidence was located.

Both the recovered fired cartridge case and fired bullet were submitted to MSP Lab and
were identified as having been fired from Blanding’s service weapon.

Other Witnesses

A civilian in a home on Otsego was identified. He indicated that he was in his house, in bed,
when he heard an officer saying, “Get down, get down!” He also heard the officer talking on
his radio, calling for help. He then went outside and saw a second officer looking for his
partner. He did not hear a gunshot.

Video

Scout car video was operable. Officer Blanding is briefly visible on the video when he exits
the scout car near the crash and then immediately goes back to the scout car to chase
Burton. He is not visible when he exits the vehicle again to chase the subject on foot.

There were no body worn cameras. There were no surveillance cameras in the area.

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Autopsy

Dr. Sung performed the autopsy at the Wayne Medical Examiner’s Office. Raynard Burton
was 19 years old, 5’11” and 184 lbs. The cause of death was a close range single gunshot
wound to the right chest. Around the wound was a circumferential ring of gunpowder
stippling. The stippling extends 1 ¾ inches from the wound entrance. There were also
small abrasions to the left flank, left arm, bilateral hands, right knee and left leg. One bullet
was removed from Burton’s body.

Blanding’s Height and Weight

Officer Blanding is 47-years-old. He is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 170 pounds.

Background Information

Carjacking by Raynard Burton

The investigation revealed that at about 12:21 a.m. on February 11, 2017, the green Pontiac
Bonneville in question was carjacked from a man in the 3800 block of Sturtevant while he
was in his own driveway placing items in the car. The victim had only recently purchased the
car from an acquaintance. The registration had not yet been transferred to him. On
February 13, 2017, the carjacking victim identified Burton in a photographic lineup as the
individual who carjacked him.

Conclusion

The investigation clearly established that only one shot was fired in the encounter between
Officer Blanding and Burton. That shot was fired by Officer Blanding at the conclusion of a
vehicle pursuit and foot chase of Burton. Burton said that he did not want to go to jail. He
fled from police, knowing that he had committed a carjacking in circumstances where the
victim would be able to identify him.

The description of events given by Officer Blanding to his partner, corroborated by the
investigation and his radio transmissions, indicate that Burton led Officer Blanding to an
overgrown area in the rear of a vacant house. It further supports that Burton refused to get
down, and that the two engaged in a struggle, at which time Burton grabbed for Officer
Blanding’s gun.

Officer Blanding’s description of events is further supported by the account given by the
civilian that he heard Blanding yelling, “Get down, get down!” and then heard Blanding
calling for assistance on the radio.

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Officer Blanding’s version of events is also supported by the location and the close nature of
the gunshot wound which ultimately killed Burton. The placement of the wound is consistent
with Burton struggling with Officer Blanding and reaching for his weapon. The fact that the
wound is close range with gun powder stippling around its circumference is also consistent
with a struggle between the two men in close contact.

Based on the facts and evidence in the case, there is insufficient evidence to charge a crime
and the warrant request is denied.

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Detroit Police Officer Charged in Assault of

Two Men at Mobil Station

Detroit Police Officer Richard Billingslea, 25, has been charged in connection with assaults
on Michaele Jackson, 39, and D’Marco Craft, 26, both of Detroit, at a Mobil Gas Station in
Detroit.

It is alleged that on May 31, 2017 at approximately 1:40 a.m., Officer Billingslea and his
partner stopped at the Mobil Gas Station in the 17000 block of Harper in their marked scout
car. Officer Billingslea is alleged to have become involved in a verbal exchange with
Jackson, a friend of D’Marco Craft who was previously known to Officer Billingslea. The
argument escalated into an assault during which Jackson was pepper-sprayed and beaten.
Craft recorded the assault on his cell phone, which was taken by another officer who
responded to the location. Billingslea is alleged to have disposed of Craft’s cell phone in a
trash can in the store. Jackson was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Defendant Billingslea has been charged with Assault with Intent to Commit Great Bodily
Harm, Aggravated Assault, Obstruction of Justice, Misconduct in Office and Assault and
Battery*.

Billingslea will be arraigned on December 21, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in 36th District Court.

*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Former Detroit Police Officer Charged

in Assault of Detroiter

Former Detroit Police Officer Edward Hicks, 28, has been charged in connection with the
assault of Deonta Stewart, 31, of Detroit.

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On August 30, 2016 at approximately 10:00 p.m., Officer Hicks and his partner drove up on
Stewart, who was walking in the area of the Martin Luther King Homes at Chene and
Lafayette Streets in Detroit. It is alleged that Hicks yelled for Stewart to stop and he took off
running. Hicks initiated a foot chase. During the chase, Stewart looked back and, realizing
he was being pursued by the police, stopped running. It is alleged that Hicks punched
Stewart in the face multiple times, causing significant facial injuries and placed him under
arrest.

Stewart’s transport to the Detroit Detention Center (DDC) was delayed. Before taking
Stewart to DDC, it is also alleged that Hicks told Stewart to give a false statement to the
intake officer about his arrest and injuries. Stewart was later released from DDC and sought
medical treatment at a local hospital.

Defendant Hicks has been charged with Assault with Intent to Commit Great Bodily Harm,
Aggravated Assault, Obstruction of Justice and Misconduct in Office*.

Arrangements are being made for Hicks to turn himself in for arraignment. An updated
release will be sent out when the date and time has been confirmed.
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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