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In July 2020, three counts of Felony Firearm were issued against a Detroit Police Department Cpl. Daniel DeBono. He is alleged to have shot non-lethal ammunition at three photojournalists after police brutality protests in downtown Detroit had disbursed. One journalist was injured by the shots.

After the preliminary examination concluded today Judge Roberta Archer did not bind the defendant over on the charges. In dismissing the case, the court ruled that MCL 750.527 applied.
The statue grants immunity to any officer where an unlawful assembly is declared. The court applied the statute in this case and dismissed the charges as a matter of law.

The prosecution argued that the statute does not apply because the journalists were not a part of the protest, and the protest had been cleared at the time and place of the alleged assault by Cpl. DeBono.

WCPO will determine if there will be appeal to the Wayne County Third Circuit Court Criminal Division in this matter.

*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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