Update: Tuesday, 2 p.m. -- The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office released more details. Read at bottom of story.
-----------------------------
So much for awards.
Two Detroit cops, who were honored last year with local and national law enforcement awards, were arrested Tuesday and charged with embezzlement, larceny and filing a false felony report, George Hunter of The Detroit News reports.
“They are charged in multiple cases with theft offenses and misconduct in office,” says Maria Miller, spokeswoman for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, in a statement. “The officers have been suspended from the police force at this time.
The charges come as a result of an eight-month investigation.
Hunter reports:
Charles Lynem and Chancellor Searcy were arrested and incarcerated in the Detroit Detention Center Tuesday, a day after Wayne County Prosecutors signed a warrant authorizing charges of embezzlement less than $20,000, larceny less than $20,000 and filing a false felony report. Also, both were charged with misconduct in office.
The following info was released by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office:
1. Allegations on March 18, 2013 Against Searcy and Lynem
On March 18, 2013 at 7:20 p.m. Officers Searcy and Lynem arrested a 33-year-old Detroit man at a gas station in the 10600 block of Outer Drive and confiscated a sum of money from him. It is alleged that there was wrongful conduct surrounding the detention , frisk, seizure of property and the arrest of the suspect. Further details will be revealed in court at the preliminary examination.
2. Allegations on August 4, 2014 Against Searcy
On September 4, 2014 at approximately 9:30 p.m. in front of a location in the 4000 block of Webb it is alleged that Officer Searcy stopped a 28-year-old Detroit man and confiscated a sum of money from him. It is alleged that there was wrongful conduct surrounding the detention ,frisk, seizure of property of the man. The man went to the 10th Precinct and filed a formal complaint on the same day. Further details will be revealed in court at the preliminary examination.
3. Allegations on August 10, 2014 Against Searcy
On August 10, 2014 at 1:59 a.m. in front of a location in the 7600 Quinn it is alleged that Officer Searcy stopped and patted down a Detroit man and removed a sum of money from his pocket. The man went to the 11th Precinct on the same day and made a formal complaint. Further details will be revealed in court at the preliminary examination.
4. Allegations on September 27, 2014 Against Searcy and Lynem
On September 27, 2014, at 8:15 p.m. at a location in the 8000 block of West Grant Boulevard it is alleged that Officers Searcy and Lynem fabricated the circumstances and documentation surrounding the arrest of a 41-year-old man for carrying a concealed weapon. Further details will be revealed in court at the preliminary examination.
Both defendants were arraigned on all charges and received a $10,000 personal bond. The probable cause hearing will be held on November 3, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. and the preliminary examination will be held on November 10, 2015 before Judge Ronald Giles.
