Former Warren Police Officer Charged with Federal Civil Rights Violation for Attacking Arrestee

A former Warren police officer, Matthew James Rodriguez, has been charged with a federal civil rights violation for assaulting a suspect in the city jail. The assault, which was captured on video, involved Rodriguez punching the suspect and slamming his head onto the floor. The Warren Police Commissioner terminated Rodriguez after an internal investigation found the assault to be unjustified. Rodriguez is also facing misdemeanor charges in state court, but the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office will defer to the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecution. The victim has filed a federal lawsuit seeking $50 million in damages.