Matthew Rodriguez, Excessive Force, Michigan 2023

Former Warren, Michigan, police officer Matthew Rodriguez has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison for using excessive force against an arrestee while fingerprinting and photographing him at a local detention facility.

According to court documents, on June 13, 2023, then-officer Rodriguez was fingerprinting and photographing an arrestee, J.S., who had recently been brought to the Warren Police Department’s jail for processing. During fingerprinting, Rodriguez and J.S. got into a verbal argument and began trading insults. In retaliation for one of J.S.’s remarks, Rodriguez struck J.S. multiple times and slammed J.S.’s head against the fingerprint room floor.

In connection with his plea, Rodriguez admitted to writing a report in which he made false statements about the incident and omitted material information in an attempt to cover up his crime.

‘This defendant swore to protect and serve his community, but instead he abused his power by violently assaulting an arrestee,’ said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. ‘This sentence should serve as a reminder to all law enforcement that a badge is not a license to answer verbal insults with physical violence and excessive force.’

‘Police officers have a duty to protect the civil rights of everyone in our community, including individuals in their custody,’ said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. ‘Physical abuse of detainees is completely unacceptable and undermines public confidence in the integrity of law enforcement.’

The FBI Detroit Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Warren Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moran for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.

Warren Police Department officials have not commented on the incident, but the case highlights the ongoing issues of police brutality and accountability in the United States.

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