Councilman arrested in alleged incident of assault on deputy

By STEVE EISENBERG

NEWS STAFF REPORTER
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Ann Arbor city council member Larry Hunter was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a sheriff’s deputy Thursday night in Ypsilanti Township, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department.

But Hunter said this morning he believes the incident was racially motivated, and he has filed a complaint with the sheriff’s department. Hunter, who is black, also said he has placed a call to Sheriff Ronald Schebil.

“I’m shocked. I can’t believe the treatment that I got,” said Hunter, 39.

The arrest occurred at West Michigan Avenue and First Avenue at 10:39 p.m., a report said.

Hunter was taken to the Washtenaw County Jail at 11 p.m. and was released at 6 a.m. today, pending authorization of a warrant, according to Lt. James Jessen. Assistant Prosecutor Steve Hiller said a warrant, if authorized, would not be issued until “the middle of next week at the earliest.”

Sheriff’s deputies initially stopped a car, in which Hunter was a passenger, for a broken left taillight and no rear bumper, said Lt. James Fink.

After the traffic stop, deputies attempted to search Hunter to ensure he was not carrying weapons, Fink said. He declined to comment why deputies suspected Hunter might be carrying

Hunter, however, said he wasn’t carrying weapons.

“I don’t carry weapons,” he said.

When the car, driven by a friend of Hunter’s, was stopped, deputies asked Hunter for his identification. Hunter said he questioned why that was necessary. “Am I accused of something?” he recalls asking.

Hunter said deputies then ordered him out of the car, and he presented his identification. During this, deputies began to search Hunter, and Hunter said he moved back toward the car. His hands, which were holding up the identification, dropped and touched a white deputy, who Hunter said arrived after the initial deputies.

According to Hunter, the officer said with a laugh, “You touched a police officer. That's assault.”

Fink refused to release details of the incident and would not identify the officers involved.

During the incident, Hunter said he heard in the background voices saying, “Oh, he’s a black male. He doesn't want to cooperate.” Hunter said he was not sure if that came from the deputies on the scene or was radio traffic.

In addition, according to Hunter, one officer said to other deputies after the arrest, “We got a council member, and how is that going to look in The Ann Arbor News?”

Hunter said he replied, “Look, you want to damage my reputation, you’ve already done it.”.

Hunter was released today pending authorization of a warrant.