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Taylor Officer Charged in Assault of Southfield Man
On April 1, 2020, at 1:43 a.m. the Taylor 911 Dispatch received a call from a female complainant, 34, of Taylor, who reported an alleged domestic disturbance involving her boyfriend Brendan Morgan. She informed the police that he drove away from her home in the direction of a Marathon gas station in a black sedan. *
The Taylor Dispatch put the information over the police radio. Three marked SUV scout cars with seven officers responded to the dispatch. The officers had body worn cameras and the scout cars had cameras that recorded the encounter. Mr. Morgan's car was located driving toward the Marathon station located in the 8350 block of Telegraph. The scout cars activated their lights and sirens as Mr. Morgan pulled into the station. Officer Peake approached on foot, pointed his handgun at Mr. Morgan, and instructed him to stop his car and get out several times. Mr. Morgan rolled down his window and raised both hands where they were visible. It is alleged that Officer Peake then punched Mr. Morgan in the face with his right hand through the open window while holding his handgun in his left hand. Ten seconds elapsed from the time Officer Peake approached yelling commands until the time he punched Mr. Morgan. Officer Peake then struck Mr. Morgan multiple times on the ground after Mr. Morgan was forcibly removed from his vehicle by other officers.
Officer Peake has been charged with Misconduct in Office for committing an assault and battery on Mr. Morgan. Misconduct in Office is a common law felony that carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison. He is also charged with Assault and Battery, a 93-day misdemeanor. **
Officer Peake was arraigned this morning before Judge Gino D. Salamone in 23rd District Court in Taylor. He was given a personal bond and ordered to have no contact with the complaining witness. His CPL was also suspended. The Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for September 8, 2021 and the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for September 13, 2021 in 23rd District Court.
*On April 2, 2020 Mr. Morgan was charged with one count each of Resisting and Obstructing a Police Officer, Fleeing the Police Forth Degree, Malicious Destruction of a Building (his girlfriend's house) and misdemeanor Domestic Violence. At the July 27, 2020, preliminary examination, the Domestic Violence, and the Malicious Destruction of a Building charges were dismissed because the complainant failed to appear in court. The prosecution proceeded on the remaining charges. The Judge found insufficient evidence to bind over Mr. Morgan on the remaining charges and the case was dismissed. After the preliminary examination, the assistant prosecutor forwarded the file to the WCPO Public Integrity unit for review. The case was sent to the Michigan State Police for investigation and a warrant request was presented to WCPO on January 21, 2021.
**The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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**The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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