Detroit — A former Melvindale police officer convicted of using excessive force during two traffic stops in 2024 was sentenced to six months in jail on Friday, as a judge called him a “bad apple” and said he terrorized, rather than protected, those he was sworn to serve.
Former Melvindale Police Lt. Matthew Furman was convicted of one count of misconduct in office and one count of misdemeanor assault and battery last month for using excessive force. The case stemmed from a July 2024 stop in which Furman used his Taser on a man who lied to him about his identity and was pulled over for having expired insurance and driving around a barricade. Furman repeatedly tased Drakkar Williams and later grabbed his hair and hit his head against the fire truck he was sitting on after he was pulled over.
Furman also pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault and battery for kicking a male suspect multiple times in his leg and ankle as he was secured in handcuffs. He was sentenced to one year of probation in this case.
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Mark Slavens sentenced Furman on Friday to three years of probation, with the first six months to be served in the Wayne County Jail for the July 2024 case.
“You have brought great dishonor to those people who wear the uniform and the badge,” said Slavens, who also called him “a bad apple.” “You swore an oath, sir, to serve and protect. This court believes that at the end here that you took up an oath to terrorize and injure citizens of the state of Michigan.”
Slavens brought up the facts of the case, that Furman continued to tase a man as he screamed in pain and called him expletives and an ableist slur.
“What police officer with 14 years of experience and a lieutenant does that?” Slavens said.
Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Matthew Makepeace said Furman acted outside of his role as a police officer and argued a six-month jail sentence was needed to show him, and the general public, that his actions were not acceptable.
“Mr. Furman in this case went above and beyond what he was required to do,” Makepeace said. “He absolutely disgraced police officers everywhere when he assaulted Mr. Williams in 2024.”
Furman was fired from Melvindale police several months ago.
Attorney Dennis Whittie asked Slavens to sentence Furman to probation, as he said Furman is not a danger to society. He said Furman declined to speak on his own behalf because of some legal issues connected to the misconduct in office conviction that he plans to appeal.
“It’s very clear he will never be a law enforcement officer again,” Whittie said. “he doesn’t believe he’s a good fit for that, obviously.”
Whittie said Furman has a new career in the trades and is a farmer.
“I don’t think the public receives any more protection from incarcerating Mr. Furman,” Whittie said. “He’s trying to learn from this and move on from this.”
Furman was acquitted of using excessive force against Alica Cook in April 2024 when he tried to drag her out of her car after doing a traffic stop while she was parked for having an expired license plate. When Furman could not get her out of the car, he used his taser on her.
Furman has been accused of assault before. In 2019, Furman was charged with assault for causing an intoxicated man to fall. He pleaded no contest to willful neglect of duty and was given a year of probation with conditions that he attend anger management classes and make restitution.
kberg@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Former Melvindale cop sentenced to jail for using excessive force
Reporting by Kara Berg, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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