Detroit Police Say Officers Not At Fault In Alleged Reporter Pushing
DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit police say an investigation into an alleged pushing incident between two officers and a local TV news reporter shows that police did nothing wrong.
According to Deputy Chief Rodney Johnson, M.L. Elrick refused to honor police requests to stop blocking the door to the Bethel AME Church as he was trying to interview Detroit City Council President Pro Tem George Cushingberry before a meeting late last month.
Johnson said it was Elrick who initiated the physical contact with police.
"Mr. Elrick and his cameraman waited for Cushingberry at the front entrance to the church and was asked to move ... due to the area being restricted for their safety because the conditions on the sidewalk were unsafe," Johnson told WWJ Newsradio 950.
"Mr. Elrick's body made contact with Sergeant Mitchel's and Mr. Elrich continued pushing forward," said Johnson, "causing Sergeant Mitchel's right arm to be positioned between Mr. Elrick and President Pro Tem Cushingberry."
Elrick, who works for Fox 2, had claimed security officers bumped him and denied his right to interview a public official in a public place. He said, at the time, it was troubling that police would "rough up" a reporter working on a story.
Police said Elrick didn't break the law and the officers didn't violate police procedures. No charges have been filed in connection with the incident.
Elrick is the same reporter who made headlines last year after a dust-up with one of ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's attorneys was caught on tape. [Read more here].
