FLINT, MI – No charges will be issued related to the arrest of a man wrongly accused of shoplifting at a Flint Township Walmart who was then seen on video being punched in the head by a Genesee County Sheriff’s paramedic deputy, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton announced Friday, May 27.
In a news release, Leyton said he found no probable cause that any officer committed a crime against John Fleming, a 30-year-old Flint man who has accused Flint Township police and a member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office of using excessive force on him.
He also said he did not find evidence that Fleming – who had originally been engaged by police following a false report of retail fraud – had committed a crime.
“Mr. Fleming was traumatized by his arrest and he reacted,” Leyton said. “I am not going to criminalize his response. The incident at Hurley was unfortunate, but I found no probable cause that would warrant criminal charges against Mr. Fleming.
“And while I encourage police officers to use de-escalation methods when safe to do so, I find no probable cause that any officer committed a crime.”
Fleming, who is Black, was pulled off a Mass Transportation Authority bus and handcuffed after he was wrongfully accused of retail fraud at the Corunna Road Walmart on April 2.
He also has alleged the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office used excessive force after a video of Fleming being held down by three officers while a fourth punched him multiple times in the head was shared repeatedly on social media.
Despite spending three days in the Genesee County Jail after the incident at Hurley, Fleming has not been charged with a crime.
Read more: Public demands action after Flint man alleges township police, sheriff’s deputy used excessive force
In the weeks following the incidents, the public has demanded action be taken against the officers involved.
Demonstrators also have drawn parallels to what happened to Fleming and what happened on the other side of the state, where a Grand Rapids police officer shot and killed Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year-old Black man who was originally pulled over because his license plates did not match his car.
In Genesee County, community leaders are asking for police at the sheriff’s office as well as in Flint Township to undergo specialized training to help them work with communities of color.
Leaders have also asked for change at Hurley Medical Center and have called for a boycott of the Flint Township Walmart store.
Read more at The Flint Journal:
Two sentenced in 2019 Flint shooting that left woman paralyzed
Jury finds Flint man guilty of second-degree murder after hitting woman with vehicle in 2020
Preliminary examination scheduled for mother whose 6-year-old allegedly shared marijuana edibles
Ad Choices