Suit: Cop claims pressure to find Mateen Cleaves guilty
A Genesee County police officer has filed a lawsuit alleging he was pressured to find former Michigan State basketball star Mateen Cleaves guilty of sexual assault.
Mundy Township Police Officer Brian Ogle filed suit last week against the police department and the township alleging he was retaliated against for reporting violations of Michigan law in the investigation to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, which handled the investigation. Genesee County prosecutors turned the case over to Wayne County because of a potential conflict of interest.
Ogle’s suit claims his rights under the state’s Whistleblowers' Protection Act were violated. He participated in the investigation of allegations that Cleaves took a 24-year-old woman he met at a charity golf outing to a motel in Mundy Township, southwest of Flint, Sept. 15 and kept her against her will while sexually assaulting her.
Mateen Cleaves arraigned in sexual assault case
The lawsuit alleges that not long into the investigation, Ogle “found himself at odds with defendants because he would not acquiesce to defendants’ pressure to portray Mr. Cleaves as guilty of sexual assault.”
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The lawsuit says the township and the police were upset that he reported his concerns and suspended him for two days without pay. Ogle seeks damages exceeding $25,000 for lost earnings and potential earnings and for emotional damages.
Ogle’s lawyer, Dean Yeotis, declined comment. Township officials couldn’t be reached Tuesday.
Cleaves, 38, of Grand Blanc faces charges of unlawful imprisonment, assault with intent to commit criminal sexual penetration, second-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The charges are punishable by up to 10 to 15 years in prison if he’s convicted.
Cleaves’ lawyer has said the charges are outrageous, false and catastrophic to his career.
Cleaves, who grew up in Flint, played six seasons in the NBA after leading the Spartans to a national basketball championship in 2000. He has served as an sports analyst for Fox Sports Detroit and CBS.
Prosecutor blasts 'backdoor arraignment' of Cleaves
Contact Matt Helms: 313-222-1450 or mhelms@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @matthelms.