LANSING — Two state troopers allege a high-ranking Michigan State Police official improperly pressured a prosecutor to criminally charge them with assault after they arrested the brother of a friend of hers.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Eaton County Circuit Court, also alleges that MSP Chief Deputy Director Aimee Brimacombe, who is the number two officer at the MSP with the rank of lieutenant colonel, was involved in a decision to recently settle, for close to $1 million, a lawsuit brought against the troopers by her friend's brother.
Brimacombe was already the subject of controversy after Col. James Grady in December 2023 promoted her over dozens of higher-ranking officers, despite having recent discipline on her record for using an MSP vehicle for personal purposes over several months and being insubordinate when told to return the vehicle.
The suit alleges malicious prosecution and abuse of process and seeks unspecified damages.
Asked whether Brimacombe or the MSP had any response to the allegations in the lawsuit, spokeswoman Shanon Banner declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
All criminal charges brought in March 2023 were ultimately dropped against Troopers Cody Lukas and Justin Simpson and they are back on the job at the MSP's Flint post, according to their Lansing attorney, Patrick O'Keefe.
But following their Aug. 24, 2022 arrest of Jacob Long, Lukas was suspended indefinitely without pay and Simpson suspended with pay, the suit alleges. Both "received heavy criticism and experienced immeasurable stress."
Long was riding a bicycle and troopers used a stun gun and pepper spray and kicked him as they attempted to handcuff him , according to media reports at the time and dashboard video.
The charge of misconduct in office against Lukas, which is a five-year felony, was dismissed at the end of a May 2023 preliminary hearing in 66th District Court in Shiawassee County, at which Brimacombe testified, according to the lawsuit.
Brimacombe testified that she was Facebook friends with Long's sister, Tiffany Homola, and she telephoned Homola after Homola contacted her on Facebook shortly after the arrest.
"Homola informed defendant that Homola's brother (Jacob Long) was assaulted by several troopers," the lawsuit alleges.
"Plaintiffs would later discover that defendant and her ex-husband were close friends with Ms. Homola and her ex-husband, John Homola, and that the four of them used to hang out together socially before each couple divorced," the suit alleges.
Brimacombe, an attorney who at the time headed the MSP's risk management section and was in charge of MSP civil litigation, brought internal affairs complaints against Lukas and Simpson and met privately with Shiawassee County Attorney Scott Koerner to pressure him to bring criminal charges against the two troopers after the prosecutor's file on the case had been placed in the "closed" bin, the lawsuit alleges.
Asked whether the allegation that he was pressured to bring charges was true, Koerner did not answer directly.
"I have not been contacted or notified regarding any complaint against Lt. Col. Brimacombe," he said in an email.
Misdemeanor charges of assault and battery against both troopers were dismissed in July 2023, at Koerner's request, according to the lawsuit.
Long sued the two troopers, plus a third defendant, in federal court in Detroit in April 2024, alleging false arrest and excessive force. Records show the case was dismissed by agreement on Sept. 20 of this year.
Brimacombe "recommended that MSP settle with Mr. Long in order to save face after her malicious actions levied against plaintiffs and in further attempt to help enrich the brother of her friend," the suit alleges.
The settlement terms are not disclosed on the court record, but O'Keefe said he understands from parties involved in the case the MSP agreed to pay Long close to $1 million.
Banner would not disclose Thursday the amount of the settlement, citing the pending litigation.
An attorney for Long did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on X, @paulegan4.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Troopers make explosive allegations against high-ranking MSP official in new lawsuit
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