Ex-Warren police officer who attacked teen inmate in jail sentenced to prison

(WWJ) — A former police officer from Warren has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison for using excessive force on a 19-year-old Detroit man in the Warren Jail booking room.

Back in March 49-year-old Matthew Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.

The charge stems from an incident on June 13, 2023 that was caught on camera, showing Rodriguez repeatedly punching the 19-year-old and slamming his head against the floor during the fingerprinting process.

The Department of Justice says Rodriguez attacked the teen after they had gotten into an argument and “began trading insults.”

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 Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, per a press release. “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.”

Federal prosecutors had been asking for a sentence of 18-24 months for Rodriguez — who is now a self-employed truck driver — while his attorneys had requested a non-custody sentence.

Exactly where he will be incarcerated, and when he will turn himself in, will be left up to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. A timeline for those decisions was not immediately clear.

Rodriguez also has twice been charged with crimes involving violence off-duty, dating back to the 1990's, but neither case resulted in a conviction.

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