Detroit Police are responding after a viral social media post claimed officers purposely tased a man in the face and failed to identify themselves during an encounter on the city’s west side.
The incident happened around 4:25 p.m. on October 13 near West Seven Mile and Hubbell. Officers from the 12th Precinct said they ran a vehicle’s plate and found the owner had two felony warrants. Before they could initiate a stop, the driver pulled into a nearby business.
“When we approached the driver, he denied knowing anything about the warrants and gave a false name,” said Captain Timothy Jones. “We later confirmed he was the wanted person.”
Police said the man ran from officers and tried to jump a fence. During the chase, an officer deployed a taser. “His back was toward the officer, and as he turned, that’s why he was hit in the eyebrow,” Jones said.
DPD said the man was checked by medics at the scene and was taken to the hospital but has since been released.
In a Facebook post, the post claimed officers never identified themselves, saying he was parked at a tire shop and was approached by two men “who parked a half block down 7 Mile.”
Police say those claims are not accurate. According to DPD, the officers were in a marked scout car and wearing modified uniforms that said “POLICE.” Jones said, “He was talking with them the whole time as they were running his name.”
The department said the incident is being reviewed by the Force Investigation Unit and emphasized transparency.
“We understand when people see someone bleeding, they think something went wrong,” Jones said. “But these officers acted professionally and followed procedures.”
