A Michigan deputy who resigned to avoid termination after he was caught on video pulling a man out of a car for asking a simple question is now working for another law enforcement agency, despite the fact he has an established reputation for aggressive and unprofessional behavior towards citizens.
But considering his new employer, the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office, is looking into introducing body and dash cams for its deputies, we will likely see more videos of his aggressive behavior in the future.
However, his previous employer, the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office, had also required him to wear a body cam – which he was not doing on June 16, 2014 when he pulled over Todd Micheal Brenizer for a broken tail light.
But unknowing to Brown, Brenizer was recording the traffic stop, which is what led to him resigning.
Brenizer, who was charged with resisting arrest and obstruction, was cleared of those charges when he showed prosecutors the video.
He is now negotiating a settlement with Eaton County, according to Lansing City Pulse.
The video begins showing Brenizer upset at Brown’s aggressive attitude and the fact that he did not even give him a chance to search for his proof of insurance.
In the video, Brenizer is explaining what had taken place before he started recording when Brown returns with citations for a broken taillight and failure to provide proof of insurance.
Brenizer attempts to ask several questions including his name and badge number, but Brown tells him that information is on the citation.
Brenizer agains requests more information as Brown demands he move his vehicle or go to jail.
Brown then starts yelling, “get the fuck out of the car or you’re going to jail.”
Brown then flings open the door while Brenizer remains adamant that he had done nothing wrong.
After a brief struggle, Brenizer is forced out and ordered to lay down on the ground.
In Brown’s arrest report, he stated that he “Brenizer had a right to ask him questions but instructed him to leave as he was blocking the roadway.”
He then said that “he refused and I grabbed him to escort him out of the vehicle and he pulled me into the vehicle,” which is how he justified the resisting arrest and obstruction charges.
Eaton County sheriff officials said that Brown had been required to wear a body camera due to a previous instance of unruly behavior with another citizen, but he had failed to do so.
Questions remain why Brown was not charged with false arrest or filing a sworn affidavit against Brenizer, but we can surmise it was an extension of Blue Privilege, which is all to common in the profession.
Brown’s resignation did not prohibit him from obtaining a position at Lenawee County Sheriff’s Department, yet one more Blue Privilege.
The first video below is edited to get right to the part when Brown pulls Brenizer out the car. The second video is the longer version.
It was just over a year ago when another Eaton County sheriff’s deputy named Jonathan Frost pulled over a teenager named Deven Guilford over for flashing his high beams at him, resulting in the deputy shooting and killing the teen.
Michigan Family of Teen Shot to Death by Cop After Flashing High Beams Files Lawsuit
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