WARREN, Mich. – A former police officer is headed to federal prison after beating an inmate at the Warren Police Department.
Matthew Rodriguez was sentenced Tuesday, Sept. 10, to one year and one day for the beating of a teen in the intake room.
Read: Former Warren police officer sentenced for assaulting teen inmate in custody
The incident happened June 13, 2023. Rodriguez was working as a jail officer when the 19-year-old victim was brought to the department after being arrested. Video shows Rodriguez punching the teen in the head while the victim was standing with his hands in his pockets. Rodriguez reportedly used his closed fist to punch the teen repeatedly in the head while the victim was on the floor. Rodriguez also reportedly slammed the victim’s head onto the floor before throwing the teen into a cell.
Video of the violent assault has been seen millions of times.
The U.S. Department of Justice said the teen was not physically resisting Rodriguez and posed no immediate threat to anyone during the assault.
During sentencing, the judge revealed that this was the third time Rodriguez had gotten violent on the job that they know about.
He pleaded guilty to using excessive force against an arrestee. As part of his plea, Rodriguez admitted to writing a false report about the incident in an attempt to cover up his crime.
Rodriguez will be notified when to report to prison, where he will receive special protections as a former law officer.
When defense attorney Steve Fishman was asked if he believed his client felt remorse for his actions, Fishman replied “I think he’s sorry that he wound up in federal court.”
