Melvindale Police Lt. Matthew Furman
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE – Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced Aug. 7 that Melvindale Police Lt. Matthew Furman has been charged in three misconduct cases that occurred over a three-year period.
On July 23, 2021, when Furman was in Dearborn, he joined the pursuit of a man who fled a traffic stop.
The incident, which occurred near Outer Drive and Dartmouth in Dearborn, occurred when police officers from Van Buren Township were assisted by police officers from the Wayne County Airport and Dearborn, as well as Michigan State troopers, who were in pursuit of a 35-year-old Taylor man.
After Van Buren Township police officers disabled the fleeing man’s vehicle, he attempted to flee on foot before he was physically captured and detained.
While the man was being handcuffed, it is alleged that Furman kicked the man multiple times in his leg and ankle.
For this incident, Furman is being charged with a common law offense and misconduct in office, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in the Michigan Department of Corrections, and with assault and battery, a 93-day misdemeanor.
The second incident occurred April 13, 2024 in the 19600 block of Wood Avenue in Melvindale.
At 9:48 a.m., Furman conducted a traffic stop of a 35-year-old Detroit woman whose vehicle was in a school parking lot with expired plates and no vehicle insurance.
The woman declined to give Furman identification, at which time he allegedly tried to forcibly remove her from the vehicle. When he was unable to do so, he allegedly deployed his stun gun on her left leg. He then allegedly ordered her and her children to exit the car.
Medics were called to treat the woman for her injuries.
Furman is being charged with a common law offense – misconduct in office, which carries a penalty of five years in prison — felonious assault, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison; and assault or assault and battery, a 93-day misdemeanor.
The third incident occurred at 11:50 a.m. on July 20, 2024, near Homestead Avenue and Wall Street in Melvindale, when Furman conducted a traffic stop for a 36-year-old Melvindale man’s vehicle for improper plates.
The man, who said he did not have identification, was asked to step out of the vehicle and place his hands on the vehicle roof.
It is alleged that Furman then deployed his stun gun on the man’s back, kicked him in the leg, and deployed his stun gun a second time on the man’s back.
Additional Melvindale police officers arrived on the scene, and when they placed the man on the ground, Furman allegedly placed his foot on the man’s rib area.
Medics from the Dearborn Fire Department were called to the scene to treat the man, during which time it is alleged that a verbal altercation between the man and Furman resulted in Furman grabbing the man by the shirt and hair and pulling him up against the fire truck.
For the incident Furman has been charged with a common-law offense – misconduct in office, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, with felonious assault, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison, and with assault, or assault and battery, a 93-day misdemeanor.
Melvindale Deputy Police Chief Nick Martinez said following Furman’s Aug. 8 arraignment in 24th District Court, that he has been placed on unpaid administrative leave. In addition, Furman’s Michigan Commission of Law Enforcement Standards license has been suspended.
Worthy said it is important to remember that the majority of police officers bravely place their lives on the line every day and proudly serve with the utmost integrity.
“The alleged behavior of this officer is criminal and does a disservice to the men and women who have taken an oath to protect and serve all of our citizens,” she said.