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Safety
Assaulted, Part 1: The AAPD & County Prosecutor
by P.D. Lesko
A search at Crimemapping.com shows that assaults/assaults and battery (misdemeanor and felony) are one of the most frequent crimes reported in Ann Arbor. The assaults reported included intimidation, stalking, use of a…
Records Show State Police Fixed Speeding Ticket for Wife of Ann Arbor’s Former Chief of Police
by P.D. Lesko
A disgruntled AAPD officer alleged in a 2020 email to Council members that was released to The Ann Arbor Independent as the result of a Freedom of Information Act request, that Ann Arbor Police Chief Michael Cox "cost…
Four Assistant City Attorneys Assigned to Fight Former City Attorney’s Request for Public Records
by P.D. Lesko
The Ann Arbor Charter states that, like the County, Ann Arbor shall employ a single City Attorney. There are, at present, a dozen attorneys employed by the City, plus numerous contract attorneys. Four of those twelve…
Former City Administrator Takes First Step Toward Suing Mayor and Council Members for Defamation
by P.D. Lesko
In August 2021, former Ann Arbor City Administrator Tom Crawford resigned. Seven members of Ann Arbor City Council (Taylor, Disch, Song, Grand, Radina, Eyer and Briggs) had voted to terminate Crawford's employment based on…
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Deputy to be Sentenced in May for Using Neck Hold on Inmate
In August 2021, a Washtenaw County deputy headed to trial in connection with an assault involving an inmate last summer.
According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Cpl. Christopher Ellul was arraigned on an assault…
First Amendment Twist: Federal Judge Awards Local Hate Group $159K in Legal Fees
by P.D. Lesko
Note: Our family belonged to Congregation Beth Israel from 1992-2004. I served on the Board in the early-90s. When the protests by Witness for Peace began, we were members of the synagogue. We joined Temple Beth Emeth…
SafeHouse Center Sued for Allegedly Violating Michigan’s Freedom of Information and Open Meetings Acts
by P.D. Lesko
1/22/22: This article has been corrected to include a legal explanation as to why SafeHouse Center is allegedly subject to the Open Meetings Act.
The Ann Arbor Independent filed suit in Washtenaw County's 22nd Circuit…
U-M Reaches $490M Settlement with 1,050 Anderson Plaintiffs
The University of Michigan and attorneys for approximately 1,050 claimants who have alleged abuse by the late Dr. Robert Anderson announced they have reached a settlement agreement that would resolve all of those survivors’ claims against…
County Prosecutor Released Public Statement to Retaliate Against Victim for Speaking to Media
by P.D. Lesko
Note: The Ann Arbor Independent sent a request for comment and questions to the County Prosecutor, Victoria Burton-Harris and Christina Hines via email. Read that email here.
Sources inside and outside the Washtenaw…
Prosecutor Drops All Charges Against Jeffrey Dwayne Smith, $3M Bond Rescinded
Note: This article has been updated with comments from Carla Marable, Jeffrey Dwayne Smith's lawyer.
by P.D. Lesko
Jeffrey Dwayne Smith, 47, a resident of Flat Rock, Michigan and a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, was…