by John Ball
In May and June 2014, citizen complaints filed with the Ann Arbor Police Department included several from women alleging that an officer named Jason J. Kitts had offered to waive traffic tickets in exchange for sexual favors.
On June 12, 2014, a complaint was filed concerning a June 2 traffic stop on Plymouth Road. The complaint alleged that Kitts made “inappropriate remarks made during a traffic stop (that) were interpreted to be sexual in nature.”
Another complaint stated that Kitts allegedly pulled over a woman on Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor on June 16 and suggested that he’d get the ticket dismissed if she had sex with him.
Yet another woman who’d been given a speeding ticket by Kitts filed a complaint about the way he behaved in the hallway of Ann Arbor’s 15th District Court when she came to take care of it. The woman said in her complaint that Kitts allegedly said he could get the ticket dismissed, but wanted to know “what was in it for him.” The woman’s complaint also said Kitts told her, “I want to see how well you can convince me that I should do this.”
Chief John Seto said: “I am saddened by how this has affected the victims, our community and our department. It is my hope that our actions following the revelation of his misconduct will allow those affected to begin to place their trust in law enforcement officers again.”
In July, Kitts was allowed to quietly resign, and it wasn’t until the story broke in Dec. 2014 in an article published in The Ann Arbor News that AAPD Chief John Seto commented on the allegations against Kitts, as well as the fact that Kitts had resigned.
On Jan. 22 Washtenaw County Prosecutor Brian Mackie announced that charges would be filed against the former AAPD officer, aged 38. Kitts is a resident of Westland. The County Prosecutor issued a four charge warrant alleging the following:
Count 1: Misconduct is Office;
Count 2: Misconduct in Office;
Count 3: Misconduct in Office, and
Count 4: Unauthorized Access of the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN); MCL 28.214(6)(a).
Misconduct in Office is a felony and carries a possible maximum sentence of five years and/or a $10,000 fine. Unauthorized LEIN Access is a misdemeanor which carries a possible maximum sentence upon conviction of 93 days and/or a $500 fine.
The authorized charges came asa result of an investigation conducted by the Michigan State Police-First District Special Investigation Section.
The Washtenaw Public Defender was appointed to represent Jason Kitts. A preliminary examination has been set for Thursday February 3, 2015 at 9:30 a.m in the 14-A District Court Building located at the Washtenaw County Service Center, 4133 Washenaw Avenue in Pittsfield Township.
According to Washtenaw County Prosecutor Brian Mackie’s office, Kitts was released on a personal recognizance bond.
