Keystone Kops
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The incident occurred on Nov. 9 when two officers from Detroit’s 12th Precinct were posing as drug dealers in order to arrest buyers. Two buyers did arrive to the drug house, but they were undercover police officers from Detroit’s 11th district. The officers did not know each other.
More officers from the 11th district arrived to serve a search warrant and that’s “when it started to go terribly wrong,” [Detroit Police Chief James] Craig said.
Body camera footage shows the two groups of police officers yelling, shoving and throwing punches at each other.
“They appeared to be like Keystone cops,” Craig said, referring to the fictional police officers depicted in comedic silent films."
“This is probably one of the most embarrassing things I’ve seen in this department since I’ve been appointed police chief,” James Craig told reporters. “In fact, I’d have to tell you it is probably one of the most disappointing things I’ve experienced in my entire 40-year career.”
During the botched operation, 12th precinct officers, who were posing as drug dealers, were held at gunpoint by police from the 11th precinct. “I am thankful that no one was more seriously injured,” Craig said.
A video of the incident, which took place on 9 November, has been been released as part of the investigation. The bodycam footage shows one officer shouting: “Don’t put your hand on your gun” while another says his team has a search warrant.
As the brawl develops, the bodycam is knocked off the officer filming. It is believed a lack of communication over the existence of the warrant led to the problem.
