Melvindales most infamous police officer already lost his badge. The question for a Wayne County jury this week is whether he should also lose his freedom.

Watch Ross Jones' video report: Furman trial begins: Defense says tasing video is ugly, but not criminal

Former lieutenant Matthew Furman is on trial over two alleged cases of assault stemming from traffic stops he made in 2024. Both involve his use of a Taser and allegations of excessive force.

Furmanwho is facing charges of felonious assault, assault and battery, and misconduct in officehas pleaded not guilty.

Watch below: Ex-Melvindale chief says he was fired after trying to sideline controversial cop Ex-Melvindale chief says he was fired after trying to sideline controversial cop

The only witness to take the stand Monday was Drakkar Williams, who came face-to-face with Furman back in July of 2024 after Furman stopped him for driving around traffic barriers.

Williams license was suspended, and his vehicle was not insured. After Williams refused to provide his name, Furman moved to arrest him.

He was angry, Williams recalled Monday in court. He was asking me questions, but wouldnt allow me to really answer them.

While his partner held Williams outside his vehicle, Furman began to use his Taser repeatedly.

Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Matthew Makepeace played the full bodycam video of the stop, telling jurors that it showed Furman tasing Williams over and over and over and over again.

Williams said he was tased in my back, my legs, he even went around to the other side of the door, and hes tasing me in my chest, my shoulders, my arms.

Most of the charges later filed against Williams would be dropped.

During cross-examination, Furmans attorney Dennis Whittie pointed out that Williams was not cooperative at points during the stop, and even gave Furman a fake name.

Is the reason you gave a false name because you had warrants for your arrest? Whittie asked.

No, Williams said, arguing that Furmans demeanor made him uneasy and he didnt trust him with his real name.

The charges against Furman stem not just from his use of a Taser, but also what he was seen doing to Williams later on, after medics were called to the scene.

While being treated, prosecutors say he and Furman began to argue. At that point, Furman can be seen grabbing Williams by his hair and pulling him against a fire truck.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Former Melvindale Chief alleges Police Sgt. Matthew Furman 'engaged in repeated acts of police brutality' Former Melvindale Chief alleges Police Sgt. Matthew Furman 'engaged in repeated acts of police brutality'

Furmans attorney acknowledged that while the body cam video is ugly, it is not evidence of a crime.

We have the benefit of hindsight. We have the benefit of waiting to see a video, and we can pause it, and we can rewind it, we can transcribe it, we can do everything to massage it, look at it from every different angle, Whittie said. But when a police officer is in real-time, he or she doesnt have that luxury.

Whittie stressed to jurors that officers like Furman are faced with life-and-death decisions routinely.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Controversial Melvindale lieutenant fends off claim of excessive force involving Taser Controversial Melvindale lieutenant fends off claim of excessive force involving Taser

You may not like him, you may not like his attitude. Hell, I didnt, Whittie said. When I first saw the video, I went: Oohwhats going on with that? Until I saw the circumstances and heard it, did I start changing my view. And Im going to ask you to do the same.

The trial, which is expected to last up to four days, continues on Tuesday at 9 a.m.

Contact 7 Investigator Ross Jones at ross.jones@wxyz.com or at (248) 827-9466.

Living amongst the filth and rot of a Pontiac home, deputies found Teriomas Johnson's three small children.

There was no food or running water. Instead of a working toilet, the children used a cardboard box.

Watch Ross Jones' video report below: 'Where was CPS?' Pontiac mom used kids in theft, high-speed police chase

Their mother, prosecutors said, often lived somewhere else.

What you did is you said, I dont care about these kids, Oakland County Judge Yasmine Poles said at a sentencing hearing Tuesday.

They can miss a meal, they can live there with feces and dirt and a disgusting situation without a place to sleep, the judge said, her voice raised. And you call yourself a mother?

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Johnson was no stranger to Children's Protective Services. Four times before, she had been accused of neglecting her children or placing them at an unreasonable risk. Each time, the cases would be closed, deemed to be a low or moderate risk.

Tuesday in a Pontiac courtroom, Johnson was sentenced to 129 months to 20 years in prison after pleading no contest to second-degree child abuse. This is the story of how it got this far.

Previous coverage: Pontiac mom arrested, allegedly abandoned 3 kids in apartment without plumbing, littered with feces Pontiac mom arrested, allegedly abandoned 3 kids in apartment without plumbing, littered with feces

Clear exploitation

The first complaint naming Johnson would come in December of 2022, accused of physical neglect and improper supervision of her children. There are no details outlining the allegations or what CPS found, but the case was deemed a category 4: there was insufficient evidence.

Seven months later, CPS would receive another complaint that again alleged physical neglect and improper supervisor. Again, the case was closed for insufficient evidence.

In January of 2024, police records show that Johnson would be accused of stealing from a beauty supply store in Farmington Hills with her children by her side.

When staff confronted Johnson, surveillance video shows that she began to fight them. After storming out of the business, she could be seen striking an employee who tried to stop her, later using some of the stolen merchandise as a weapon.

In a call to 911, a store employee could be heard screaming: Shes beating us! Shes hurting us!

As Johnson was about to drive away, another employee is seen taking a picture of her license plate. Thats when the mother gets out of her car and can be seen attacking the employee. One of her daughters can be seen pulling her away.

Then, as it appears Johnson is about to leave the scene, police say she makes an obvious attempt to strike one of the employees with her car, hitting a Ford Fusion instead. At that point, she leaves.

Its clear exploitation, said Nancy Keller, who spent 35 years in child welfare as a CPS specialist, supervisor and manager. She reviewed records obtained by 7 News Detroit detailing Johnsons criminal and CPS history.

The mom is involved in criminality, shes exposing the children to that, Keller said. The older child, shes trying to like act as the mother.

It is not clear from police records if CPS ever knew of the robbery at the beauty shop. Just three days later, Johnson would be involved in another alleged theft at a Meijer in Rochester Hills with her children again at her side.

High-speed chase

Surveillance video shows her entering the store with an empty cart, and later leaving with what police said was $3,700 worth of stolen goods. Just behind her, store video shows, are her daughters who filled carts of their own.

After being confronted by a store employee, Johnson pushes through the vestibule, unloads her cart and along with her children drives away in her vehicle.

This time, police made the scene quickly and turned on their lights and sirens. Johnson did not stop. Instead, she began to lead the deputies on a high-speed chase after 9 p.m. on a dark January night while her children sat in the backseat.

In the dark and snow, she traveled as fast as 80 mph on streets where the speed limit was half that. As multiple officers pursued her, Johnson turned off her headlights.

Police dash cam video showed Johnson would get on and off the freeway repeatedly. Eventually, the dangerous road conditions led deputies to call off the pursuit.

Johnson would eventually be charged, pleading guilty to retail fraud, child abuse in the fourth degree and fleeing from police. CPS investigated the case, labeling it a category 3, meaning the evidence of future harm is moderate or low.

She led deputies on a high-speed police chase through the snow with two kids in the back seat, said Channel 7s Ross Jones. Would you ever consider that low risk?

No, Keller said, but my concern is theres so much pressure on these investigators, do they even have that information?

According to police records, Johnsons children would be placed with relatives following her arrest over the theft and police chase; its not clear for how long. She would spend 12 days in jail, and was later referred to parent education classes that spring.

In my heart of hearts, do I believe a parenting class is going to correct that behavior? Absolutely not, Keller said. Im a licensed clinical social worker what is causing this behavior that you would put your children at that degree of risk?"

Four months after the third CPS complaint, Johnson would be the subject of her fourth. This one, filed in Macomb County, accused her of placing two of her kids at unreasonable risk. No details were provided in police documents, and the complaint was categorized as low risk.

The next time shed be on CPSs radar was in November, when deputies found her children living in squalor.

Days after Johnson was arrested, the father of one of her children told 7 News Detroit that warnings were clear: it didnt need to come to this.

Take these situations much more seriously, especially when this happens more than once, Julian Gary said. This is like the fifth CPS case.

Previous coverage: Father speaks out after getting custody of daughter found living in horrific conditions Father speaks out after getting custody of daughter found living in horrific conditions

Police acknowledge error

At least one police department who interacted with Johnson over the years says they dropped the ball by not alerting CPS to Johnsons dangerous behavior.

The January 2024 alleged robbery in Farmington Hills where Johnson was seen leaving with store items she did not purchase, fighting with staff and narrowly missing a woman with her car before she drove away led to an investigation by a department detective.

They advised that they did not believe the children were being physically abuse or neglected, so CPS was not notified, Chief John Piggot told 7 New Detroit. I disagree with this assessment. We will be providing additional training on the matter to our staff.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees CPS, did not respond to an email seeking comment for this story.

Contact 7 Investigator Ross Jones at ross.jones@wxyz.com or at (248) 827-9466.

A Detroit police sergeant has been taken off the street while the department probes why she left the scene of a domestic violence call despite evidence that 36-year-old Catilin Tressler may have been in danger.

Watch Ross Jones' video report: DPD chief: Sergeant should have entered home of Detroit woman who is now missing

On Friday, Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said the sergeant should have entered the home of Tressler and her boyfriend, rather than clearing the scene despite evidence of possible abuse. Tressler has been missing since March 27.

"The sergeant was in charge of that scene," Bettison told Channel 7's Ross Jones. "Should not have left that scene without physically observing her. I think there was definitely grounds for entry and further observation."

The officers were dispatched to the home on Webb Street near Linwood following a report of domestic violence. According to sources, officers arrived after 10 p.m. but never entered the home.

Previous report: Detroit police name boyfriend as person of interest in disappearance of 36-year-old Caitlin Tressler Boyfriend named person of interest in Caitlin Tressler disappearance

Instead, they spoke to Tressler through an open window. and talked to her boyfriend through a closed door and closed window.

The caller who alerted police said the suspect Tresslers boyfriend had access to (a) blade, and officers who responded are said to have known he was in possession of a knife.

Tressler, sources say, told officers that she may have suffered a concussion and had a black eye.

The sergeant and officers were at the scene for around 40 minutes, sources say, but would ultimately leave. Tressler has been missing ever since.

Shes a veteran member of this department, Bettison said of the sergeant at the scene. This is elementary. Based off the circumstances, entry should have been made."

Previous report: Detroit police search for Caitlin Tressler, missing as troubling details emerge about boyfriend Detroit police search for Caitlin Tressler, missing woman on west side

Neighbors report that Tressler's boyfriend packed up and left town in a U-Haul truck the next day after police were called. He has been labeled a person of interest.

The sergeant who responded to that scene is on administrative duty not interacting with the public while internal affairs continues its investigation.

Contact 7 Investigator ross.jones@wxyz.com or at (248) 827-9466.

The family of two young Ponitac boys who doctors say were starved will stand trial on abuse and torture charges.

Arturo Bazan is accused of starving and abusing his two sons, Jonathan and Ethan, along with wife, Dulce Bazan, and older son Carlos. The two parents waived their right to a preliminary exam today, while Carlos did not.

Watch the video report below: 'He was near death:' Family of two Pontiac boys sent to trial over torture, abuse charges

Dr. Peter Gerrits, a pediatric endocrinologist, testified Friday that 9-year-old Jonathan was near death when he arrived at the emergency room in November. He weighed only 33 lbs and had lost a third of his body weight in the prior seven months.

Unbelievable, Gerrits said. It was quite striking that a person could lose that much weight.

Related Story: Parents charged in starving and torture case Parents charged with starving and torturing two kids in Pontiac

Dr. Allison Ball, a pediatrician at Corewell Hospital in Royal Oak, saw Jonathan within a day of his arrival. She had treated malnourished children in Rwanda and said Jonathans emaciation stood out.

I never saw a child this malnourished, Ball said. I never saw a child who looked as sick and emaciated and near death as Jonathan.

Ball said she saw evidence of more than just a few missed meals.

There was strong medical evidence that he was the victim of severe, prolonged maltreatment that was physical and psychological and to me constitutes torture, she said.

At the hospital, Dr. Ball said she saw marks and lacerations on Jonathans body as well. She said she spoke to Jonathans older brother Carlos, who drove him to the hospital.

Carlos said he provided military discipline, she said. Military discipline is the words he would share with me. He described that he would have Jonathan or his brother do jumping jacks or push-ups for discipline.

Also taking the stand Friday was Dr. Letha Powell, the principal of the boys school. She said both Jonathan and Ethan often seemed hungry, with one sometimes eating directly from the trash at school.

At other times, she said the boys showed signs of possible physical abuse. When Jonathan and Ethan didnt show up to school one day, Powell made a home visit herself.

A young lady came to the door and I said to her, Where are my babies? And all she said was 'not here,' Powell said.

Perhaps the most disturbing detail of all in Fridays testimony was that this case did not come out of nowhere.

When an Oakland County Sheriffs Detective took the stand, she said that repeated warnings had been made to CPS over the last 3 years.

"There were eight reports since 2022, said Detective Allison Michaels of the Oakland County Sheriffs Office.

There were a lot of allegations of physical abuse and neglect, specifically injuries to the children and allegations that they were not getting enough food.

In announcing her decision to send the criminal case to trial, Judge Ronda Fowlkes Gross said: You had three adults. Nobody rescued these kids.

Contact 7 Investigator Ross Jones at ross.jones@wxyz.com or at (248) 827-9466.

As the number of harassment claims against the Wayne County sheriff growand damaging recordings emergecounty leaders are becoming frustrated with the growing and costly controversy.

Watch Ross Jones' video report: Wayne County commissioner calls for changes at the top of sheriffs office

After recordings emerged Tuesday showing Raphael Washington's then-chief of staff calling him a womanizer who makes me uncomfortable," at least one longtime Wayne County commissioner says the sheriff should leave office.

RELATED: 'Can't help himself': Secret recordings undercut Wayne Co. sheriffs sexual harassment denials

'Can't help himself': Secret recordings undercut Wayne Co. sheriffs sexual harassment denials

There needs to be some changes there, said Commissioner Glenn Anderson (D-Westland).

Anderson and others were responding to secret recordings made in 2022, and revealed by 7 News Detroit earlier this week, between Washingtons then-communications director Erika Erickson and his then-chief of staff Michael Turner.

In light of the recordings, Anderson said Washington's prior denials of harassment were harder to believe

Ive seen too much of this. The county doesnt need that, the people of Wayne County do not need that," he said.

Other leaders who had previously bit their tongues about harassment claims in Washingtons past began to raise their voices Thursday.

Theres enough clamoring going on that it is not good for the image of Wayne County or anybody in it, said Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.

Evans said its important for the civil lawsuit filed against Washington by former appointee Regina Parks to play out in the courts, but said the allegations bring a tarnished image of Wayne County and that the lawsuit is something were paying for that we may or may not need to be paying for.

To date, the county has shelled out more than $130,000 to defend the suit.

In her lawsuit, Parks alleges that Washington touched her buttocks, propositioned her for sex and made lewd and sexual comments over a period of years.

She was fired in 2024, she claims, after telling Washingtons executive assistant that she, too, had secretly recorded him sexually harassing her.

Washington vehemently denies all of the allegations and says Parks was fired for throwing a fit after learning she would lose her title as director.

Erickson recorded her meeting with Turner in 2022 where when told him about alleged comments from the sheriff that she found troubling.

Ray has long been a womanizer, Turner said, and he makes me uncomfortable with relationships he had around here with two people in particular that have accused him of some shit.

Turner did not know the meeting was being recorded, and his candid statements contradicted prior public remarks hed made downplaying prior claims made against the sheriff.

He cant help himself. And I shouldnt say that, Turner said, as if to take back his words. That didnt jump outI keep telling him, those words are not acceptable anymore in the workplace.

Other elected officials expressed frustration Thursday with the Washington saga, but did not call for him to resign.

Congresswoman Rashia Tlaib shared WXYZs report with her 750,000 Instagram followers, writing: Have folks been following this? These are serious allegations.

Despite two meetings and an e-mail where Erickson voiced concerns about the sheriff's comments, spokeswoman Mara MacDonald says she ultimately chose not to make a formal complaint of sexual harassment.

Since last week, 7 News Detroit has asked for any records of that decision. To date, the sheriffs office has not provided any.

Erickson would lose her job with the sheriffs office only a few months after that meeting. It happened following an OWI arrest in Oakland County, which the sheriffs office said was justification for not renewing her appointment.

After Parks filed her lawsuit, it would be disclosed that she and Turnerher supervisorhad engaged in a sexual relationship between 2021 and 2024. Turner would retire following the disclosure; he declined comment for this story.

Reached Friday, Commissioner Allen Wilson said he was "taken aback" by Turner's comments in the secret recordings.

"These allegations are pretty concerning for anyone who has a pulse," Wilson said.

On Thursday, Commissioner Alex Garza (D-Taylor) called the allegations deeply concerning while Commission Chairwoman Alisha Bell said the recordings give me pause.

Theres a number of concerns that were brought out from your story, said Commissioner Jonathan Kinloch (D-Detroit) and at the appropriate time, the county will address a number of those issues.

If the ethics committee had teethwhich it should, said Commissioner Monique Baker-McCormick (D-Detroit), then maybe they could do something about it.

Washington was appointed sheriff in 2021 following the death of Benny Napoleon from COVID-19. A three-member panel was tasked with finding Napoleon's replacement.

Prosecutor Kym Worthy and Clerk Cathy Garrett voted for Washington, while Judge Freddie Burton abstained.

Through a spokeswoman, Worthy said she had no comment on the Washington saga. Garrett did not respond to a text message seeking comment.

Contact 7 Investigator Ross Jones at ross.jones@wxyz.com or at (248) 827-9466.

Months before a parking structure partially collapsed in Dearborn, trapping a 19-year-old man inside his vehicle, 7 News Detroit has learned that city officials sought an engineering report assessing the building's structural integrity.

Watch Ross Jones's video report: City says work was being done on Dearborn parking garage months before collapse

The request came after the city discovered unauthorized work being performed on the parking deck in June 2025. Because the owners had not sought a permit, the city stopped the work and told the owners to submit formal plans before proceeding.

Related Story: Man rescued after being trapped in parking garage that partially collapsed in Dearborn Man rescued after being trapped in parking garage that partially collapsed in Dearborn

In November, the city says those plans were submitted, but ultimately denied until the owner provided a structural engineering report that would assess the integrity of the structure. The city says that report has not been submitted to this day.

The city did not condemn the structure, and it was allowed to continue to operate. As of Monday, city officials said they did not know when the structure was last inspected by its building department, but believed it had been at least three or four years.

Earlier Monday, 7 News Detroit spoke with Mo Beydoun, an attorney who said he represents the owner of the structure, GJ Ramz Acquisition LLC.

The company has owned the building since 2017, and Beydoun said he did not know when the structure was last inspected.

However, he said that structural engineers on the scene since the weekend have found nothing to explain the collapse, and said its clear that structural integrity was completely sound."

Beydoun said the company is not ruling out human error, like a vehicle striking something inside the garage, but says that they remain in the dark while an investigation is ongoing.

The partial collapse of the parking garage happened around 8:45 p.m. on Friday.

Firefighters raced against time to save the 19-year-old who was trapped inside his car on the lower level of the garage.

"It looked like a big collapse, a pancake collapse the second floor collapsed on the first, which collapsed on the car," said Dearborn Fire Chief Joseph Murray.

After he was rescued, the teen was transported to a local hospital as a precaution.

Contact 7 Investigator Ross Jones at ross.jones@wxyz.com or at (248) 827-9466.