The Oakland County Sheriffs Office has disciplined one of their part-time employees who also works as an Oakland County road commissioner.

The 7 Investigators first showed you how Road Commissioner James Esshaki was accused of threatening a road commission employee on the job back in June.

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Esshaki is also a part-time Oakland County Sheriffs marine deputy. After an independent investigation found that Esshaki violated the Road Commission workplace policy about violence in the workplace, the Oakland County Sheriffs Office announced they would investigate Esshakis off-duty conduct.

That investigation is now over. OCSO Public Information Officer Stephen Huber issued this statement to the 7 Investigators:

Even though James Esshaki was off duty during the encounter and was not acting in any capacity as a part-time marine deputy with the Oakland County Sheriffs Office, our investigation found that his conduct fell short of the high standards we require of all Sheriffs Office personnel. As a result, he received a written reprimand and was directed to undergo additional training.

Esshaki previously issued a written apology about his conduct with Road Commission of Oakland County long-time foreman Walter Mersino Jr.

The Road Commissions clerk was asked to read Esshakis apology into the record at RCOC board meeting this fall:

The entire situation was unfortunate and regrettable. Obviously, tensions were elevated. I extend a sincere public apology to Mr. Mersino. I also apologize to any other person I upset by my actions. Moving forward, it is my goal to set a new standard of civility and professionalism. For my part, I accept responsibility for any words or actions that may have been perceived as offensive or threatening. My intent is to serve the citizens of Oakland County to the best of my ability, always placing the interests of those traversing our roads at the forefront. Sincerely, James Esshaki, Road Commission for Oakland County Vice Chairman.

Even though the Road Commission of Oakland County is separate from county government, the County Board of Commissioners are the ones who appoint the Road Commissioners.

That means theyre the only ones who can remove or discipline those appointees. Under state law, a road commissioner is entitled to a hearing before removal.

Thats why back on October 16th, Oakland County Commissioner Mike Spisz (R-Oxford) introduced a resolution to hold a hearing to determine Esshakis future as a road commissioner.

With any other employee in any other organization or even within the county we'd be having discussions and hearings relative to that individual and any potential disciplinary action. Why would we treat an appointed commissioner any different? said Spisz.

But the Commissions Democratic majority caucus had already agreed to stop Commissioner Spiszs efforts to hold that hearing.

Commissioner Spisz is I think going to introduce -- he might not introduce it. I meanIm told hes going to introduce it, Oakland County Commission Chair Dave Woodward (D-Royal Oak) told his fellow caucus members moments before that October 16th meeting.

So basically, there's a resolution that may come before us to unseat Esshaki. And we're trying to see if we have any interest here of doing that? No, no, no. We're all set, Chairman, said Commissioner Angela Powell (D-Pontiac) as she polled her fellow commissioners during Democratic caucus.

They later voted down that resolution at the full board meeting, which sent the resolution to the LAGO committee where it stalled there for weeks.

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After the 7 Investigators started asking why nothing had been done to hold that hearing on the road commissioners alleged threat, the resolution was suddenly added to a committee agenda for Tuesday morning, a change some commissioners applauded.

There needs to be some kind of public disclosure from both parties and the report, as to what are the events that actually took place to put, in my opinion, both parties at ease, said Commissioner Karen Joliat (R-Waterford).

On Tuesday, Esshaki told the 7 Investigators he never threatened Mersino.

The incident was witnessed by a second road commission employee. Mersino filed a police report and an incident report with the Road Commission.

All road commission employees are required to report any threats of violence, according to their work policies.

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An outside lawyer was brought in to investigate and recently issued an extensive report. After interviewing nine witnesses, attorney Heidi Hudson determined, Mr. Esshaki engaged in behavior and made comments that constituted a threat of violence, and which constituted intimidation and harassment. Hudson also wrote in her report, Many witnesses expressed concern about retaliation from Mr. Esshaki, indicating they did not know if he had the ability to interfere with their employment.

In the report that was shared with the Road Commission, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, and Oakland Countys Corporation Counsel in early September, Hudson also said, As a Road Commissioner [Esshaki] holds a position of power over Mr. Mersino. Arguably he should be held to a higher standard of behavior, but at a minimum he should follow the applicable workplace conduct policy.

Records show Esshaki declined to be interviewed for that outside investigation, with his lawyer saying he would not dignify the baseless accusations made against him and referred to the investigation into the workplace policy violation as a waste of tax-payer money!

The resolution to hold a hearing into Esshakis actions now sits with the Oakland County Economic Development Infrastructure Committee which is chaired by Commissioner Yolanda Smith Charles (D-Southfield).

I believe he should be removed. I was the one that he threatened on the job site. And where I work its no tolerance [for] violence if that happens, an employee is fired, said Mersino.

If you have a story for Heather Catallo please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com.

Three local men facing terrorism charges consented to detention in Detroit federal court Monday morning.

Watch Heather Catallo's video report: 3 alleged terror plot suspects to remain in custody

20-year-old Mohmed Ali, his brother 19-year-old Ayob Nasser, and 20-year-old Majed Mahmoud are all charged with providing material support to ISIS and with having firearms that would be used to commit an act of terrorism.

FBI agents say they were stockpiling weapons, including AR-15 style rifles, more than 1600 rounds of ammunition, and tactical gear. Federal court records also show the suspects travelled to local gun ranges to practice with their weapons as they prepared for what federal prosecutors say was a planned mass casualty terror attack on American soil.

When the FBI raided locations in Dearborn and Inkster on Halloween, they said evidence showed the suspects repeatedly referenced pumpkin day as part of the terror attack on Halloween weekend.

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Court records show the men had allegedly scoped out LGBTQ+ bars in Ferndale, and they also visited Cedar Point Amusement Park, leading agents to believe these were their potential targets.

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Now those three suspects will be staying behind bars after their attorneys told a federal magistrate judge Monday morning that all 3 men are consenting to detention.

Were going to waive our challenge to detention at this time, said attorney Jim Thomas, whos representing Nasser.

We do consent to detention without prejudice to raise the issue of release at a later time, said attorney William Swor, who is representing Mahmoud.

Attorney Amir Makled also told U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony Patti that his client, Ali, will consent to detention.

The next time we see these defendants in court, it'll be for their arraignment on the indictment. They'll be indicted pretty soon. The government has telegraphed that, said Matthew Schneider, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Schneider says even though the FBI provided a lot of detail about the case in their 93-page criminal complaint, complaints expire, which means formal indictments will happen, potentially as soon as this week.

The feds have been working on this case since at least 2024, and even though the recent arrests have been happening quickly, Schneider says the whole case is about to slow down due to a Notice of Intent to use Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Information.

It's secret classified information, said Schneider. It means that they were surveilling these defendants in some ways that they haven't made known yet. They might have been using some secret surveillance types, and they haven't disclosed that publicly.

A total of 8 suspects around the country have been arrested so far, including two in New Jersey and one in Washington state.

Schneider says while it appears federal prosecutors have a lot of evidence, the defense attorneys now involved are no strangers to complex terrorism cases. Thomas, Swor, and attorney Mike Rataj were part of the high-profile Hutaree case in 2010. Thomas and Swor also defended clients in a high-profile post-9/11 terrorism case.

This is a very sophisticated prosecution, and it's going to be very difficult, and it is a big burden to overcome. It's to these defendants advantage that they have such sophisticated defense counsel who have done this before. They know the ins and outs, not only of the federal courthouse but of these particular types of charges, said Schneider.

There are two juveniles charged as well. Their cases are under seal, which means no one is allowed to talk about those cases.

Nasser, Ali, and Mahmoud were all scheduled for preliminary examinations later this month. If they are indicted, those preliminary exams will likely be cancelled, according to legal experts.

None of the defense counsel would discuss the case publicly on Monday, and friends and family of the accused suspects also declined to be interviewed as they left federal court.

If you have a story for Heather Catallo, please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com