GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) announced new discrimination charges against the Grand Rapids Police Department at a virtual press conference Wednesday morning.
This is the second round of charges the state department will file against the GRPD.
The MDCR filed charges against the GRPD back in July regarding two incidents unrelated to these new charges.
Watch the press conference here:
The MDCR says they are looking into a total of 21 complaints filed against GRPD.
The new allegations announced Wednesday morning relate to an incident that happened back in August 2018 where three boys were detained at gunpoint and handcuffed.
Officers said at the time they believed the boys may have been related to a 911 call reporting a suspect with a gun.
The boys, a set of 11-year-old twins and a 17-year-old friend, told the officers who detained them that they were on their way to Little Caesars for pizza.
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights alleges this was an incident of officers racially profiling the boys because of their Black skin.
So, what comes next?
Once the charges are actually filed, an administrative law judge will hold a hearing in which evidence is considered and a determination on possible penalties is made.
FOX 17 has reached out to the city for comment. A spokesperson responded with the following:
“We are aware of today’s announcement by the MDCR. We have not yet been served with the charges. We’ll be reviewing the charges and responding appropriately.”
