HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – Police in Highland Park are investigating an alleged incident involving one of its reserve officers. The officer in question, who has not been charged, is accused of confiscating a large amount of cash during the Aug. 31 arrest of Carvion McKee.
“It’s very troubling that things that belong to Mr. McKee that have nothing to do with this case have not found themselves in any report and seem to have disappeared,” said his attorney, Todd Perkins who shared body cam video and the official report with Local 4.
Police allege prior to his arrest, McKee attempted to cash a check with a fake ID at a check-cashing business on Woodward Avenue. The store clerk called police and McKee was taken into custody without incident.
In the body cam video, you see the officer in question, checking McKee’s pocket. Among the items seized by police were two cell phones. McKee informs the officer that he was carrying money in another pocket the officer had missed.
“Mr. McKee is the individual who announced ‘I have some money on me, if you could take off of me,’ thinking it would be safer with him,” said Perkins. But the money was never returned to McKee, nor was it listed alongside the phones and truck McKee was driving, which were all seized at the time of his arrest.
“It incites an element of distrust for people we’re supposed to trust,” said Perkins.
Highland Park interim police chief James McMahon told Local 4 our request for comment was the first he had heard of the incident. Chief McMahon says he’s assigned the department’s Internal Affairs division to investigate the alleged incident and is unable to comment any further until the investigation is complete.