HEAR 911 TAPES FROM NOV. 2 INCIDENT
Detroit mayor's spokesman to step down from post
December 11, 2007
Detroit Free Press
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071211/NEWS01/71211049/1003
UPDATED AT 2:45 P.M.: The embattled spokesman for Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick announced today that he will be stepping down from his post as of Dec. 21.
Matt Allen, who pleaded guilty in a domestic violence case involving his wife at their home, said in a written statement that as a result of a Kilpatrick administration restructuring and his desire to minimize distractions related to his return to work, he will be reassigned to the Detroit Cable Commission as the deputy director.
“In the meantime, I will remain in the Mayor’s office to help with the transition, but look forward to new challenges back in television where my communications background was founded,” Allen said in the statement.
Earlier this month, under a plea deal with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Allen, 42, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and attempted resisting and obstructing of a police officer after an allegedly alcohol-fueled physical confrontation with his wife and Detroit police officers who responded to his wife’s 9-1-1 calls on Nov. 2.
“My wife and I are truly grateful for all the people who have expressed their well wishes and prayers for our healing and future happiness together with our children,” Allen said in a statement. “I am most thankful to Mayor Kilpatrick and the entire administration for their support of my family and myself during this personal crisis.”
Kilpatrick’s deputy press secretary, James Canning, said Allen has returned to work. He said he did not know Kilpatrick’s reasons for keeping Allen in city government.
“Matt and the mayor discussed the situation, the decision was made and we move forward from here,” he said.
Detroit Mayor's Press Secretary Reassigned To Cable Commission
December 11, 2007
WJR News
http://www.wjr.com/Article.asp?id=530210&spid=18945
(DETROIT) - Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's press secretary is taking a new job with the administration. Matt Allen recently pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge. Allen says he'll become deputy director of the Detroit Cable Commission on December 21st. The former assignment editor with a Detroit TV station pleaded guilty last week to a misdemeanor count of domestic violence in connection with a November 2nd incident. Police say Allen's wife Tania told them her 42-year-old husband shoved her into a wall. Allen was sentenced to a year's probation and was ordered to undergo counseling and substance abuse treatment. Allen had served as Kilpatrick's press secretary for about 18 months.
Read Matt Allen's statement on stepping down
Statement: Press Secretary Matt Allen’s Return
December 11, 2007
http://www.michigan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071211/NEWS01/71211052/1003/NEWS01
On December 3, 2007 I entered into an agreement with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office and plead guilty to the misdemeanor offence of domestic violence from an incident at my home on November 2nd of this year.
My wife and I are truly grateful for all the people who have expressed their well wishes and prayers for our healing and future happiness together with our children. We feel blessed to live in a community that has been so forgiving and allowed us our privacy.
I am most thankful to Mayor Kilpatrick and the entire administration for their support of my family and myself during this personal crisis. It’s been a privilege serving our Mayor and the people of Detroit as Press Secretary.
However, as a result of the Kilpatrick Administration restructuring and to minimize distractions related to my return to work, effective December 21, 2007 I will be reassigned to The Detroit Cable Commission as the Deputy Director.
In the mean time, I will remain in the Mayor’s office to help with the transition, but look forward to new challenges back in television where my communications background was founded.
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's press secretary is taking a new job after recently pleading guilty to a domestic violence charge
POSTED: 12:21 pm EST December 11, 2007
UPDATED: 6:18 pm EST December 11, 2007
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/14822561/detail.html
DETROIT -- Matt Allen will become deputy director of the Detroit Cable Commission on Dec. 21.
The former assignment editor with a Detroit TV station pleaded guilty last week to a misdemeanor count of domestic violence in connection with a Nov. 2 incident.
Police said Allen's wife Tania told them her 42-year-old husband shoved her into a wall.
Allen was sentenced to a year's probation and was ordered to undergo counseling and substance abuse treatment.
In a statement issued by Allen, he said, " My wife and I are truly grateful for all the people who have expressed their well wishes and prayers for our healing and future happiness together with our children.
We feel blessed to live in a community that has been so forgiving and allowed us our privacy.
I am most thankful to Mayor Kilpatrick and the entire administration for their support of my family and myself during this personal crisis. It’s been a privilege serving our Mayor and the people of Detroit as Press Secretary.
However, as a result of the Kilpatrick Administration restructuring and to minimize distractions related to my return to work, effective December 21, 2007 I will be reassigned to The Detroit Cable Commission as the Deputy Director.
In the mean time, I will remain in the Mayors office to help with the transition, but look forward to new challenges back in television where my communications background was founded."
Allen had served as Kilpatrick's press secretary for about 18 months.
911 Calls: Mayor's Press Secretary Arrest
December 07, 2007
WXYZ TV News
http://www.wxyz.com/content/news/investigators/story.aspx?content_id=789759d9-ebf1-4eb4-af6f-43f8cc82cf66
DETROIT (AP) - Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's press secretary has pleaded guilty to domestic violence and obstructing police. The charges stem from Matt Allen's November 2nd arrest after police responded to a 911 call at his Detroit home.
The Wayne County prosecutor's office says Allen entered the plea Monday in 36th District Court. Allen has been sentenced to a year of probation, counseling, a psychiatric evaluation and substance abuse treatment.
Defense attorney Richard Steinberg would not comment on the case. The mayor's office also had no comment.
Police say Allen's wife, Tania, told them her 42-year-old husband shoved her into a wall.
Probation, Psych Test for Press Secretary
December 04, 2007
WXYZ TV News, Detroit
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=b365ade5-f06c-4b62-8189-d1e19baf566e
DETROIT (AP) - Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's press secretary has pleaded guilty to domestic violence and obstructing police. The charges stem from Matt Allen's November 2nd arrest after police responded to a 911 call at his Detroit home.
The Wayne County prosecutor's office says Allen entered the plea Monday in 36th District Court.
Allen has been sentenced to a year of probation, counseling, a psychiatric evaluation and substance abuse treatment.
Defense attorney Richard Steinberg would not comment on the case. The mayor's office also had no comment.
Police say Allen's wife, Tania, told them her 42-year-old husband shoved her into a wall.
Detroit mayoral spokesman pleads guilty to domestic violence
Posted by Associated Press
MLive
December 03, 2007 14:59PM
http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/2007/12/detroit_mayoral_spokesman_plea.html
DETROIT -- Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's press secretary has pleaded guilty to domestic violence and obstructing police.
The charges stem from Matt Allen's Nov. 2 arrest after police responded to a 911 call at his Detroit home.
The Wayne County prosecutor's office says Allen entered the plea today in 36th District Court.
Allen has been sentenced to a year of probation, counseling, a psychiatric evaluation and substance abuse treatment.
Defense attorney Richard Steinberg would not comment on the case.
The mayor's office also had no comment.
Police say Allen's wife, Tania, told them her 42-year-old husband shoved her into a wall.
Detroit mayoral spokesman pleads guilty to domestic violence
Examiner
Dec 3, 2007 2:56 PM
http://www.examiner.com/a1083162~Detroit_mayoral_spokesman_pleads_guilty_to_domestic_violence.html
DETROIT (Map, News) - Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's press secretary has pleaded guilty to domestic violence and obstructing police.
The charges stem from Matt Allen's November 2nd arrest after police responded to a 911 call at his Detroit home.
The Wayne County prosecutor's office says Allen entered the plea Monday in 36th District Court. Allen has been sentenced to a year of probation, counseling, a psychiatric evaluation and substance abuse treatment.
Defense attorney Richard Steinberg would not comment on the case.
The mayor's office also had no comment.
Police say Allen's wife, Tania, told them her 42-year-old husband shoved her into a wall.
Mayor's press secretary charged in assault
Aide pleads not guilty to domestic violence, resisting arrest; he's out on bond.
David Josar
The Detroit News
Saturday, November 3, 2007
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071103/METRO/711030349/1408/LOCAL&imw=Y
DETROIT -- Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's press secretary, Matt Allen, pleaded not guilty Friday to domestic violence assault and resisting and obstructing charges after he allegedly shoved his wife into a wall of their Indian Village home during a pre-dawn dispute.
Later Friday night, Allen announced at his lawyer's office that he was immediately checking himself into an undisclosed treatment facility.
"Clearly I have a problem," he said. "The gravity of today has not escaped me the past 24 hours have forced me to take a very hard look at myself."
Allen, 42, who broke down when he publicly apologized to his wife, took no questions after his brief statement.
Earlier at the brief court hearing, Allen was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond after his arraignment in 36th District Court. He was directed to take an anti-domestic violence class, participate in alcohol monitoring and ordered to have no contact with his wife, Tania Allen.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Dec. 13.
"These are very serious charges," Allen's attorney Richard Steinberg said, but added that the incident was a "quarrel between and a man and a woman" and that Allen would be cleared.
He said he had spoken with Tania Allen via telephone before the arraignment and that she wanted the couple to work toward a resolution.
Resisting arrest is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and domestic violence assault is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail.
The incident occurred at about 2:30 a.m., when Allen returned home after attending a downtown Detroit fundraiser with other members of the mayor's staff.
According to police records, Allen's wife said the incident began with an argument over Matt Allen's vehicle, at which point he became upset, "grabbed (her) neck and shoved her into (a) wall, then pushed her into the bathroom, then grabbed her again and shoved her head into the window."
The window broke, police said, bruising Tania Allen's forehead.
After the arrest, according to a police report, Allen belittled the police officers.
"You're some racist cops," Allen shouted at police while he was handcuffed and being taken to the station house on East Nevada. Steinberg said the description was an exaggeration of what happened.
Mayor Kilpatrick issued a statement late Friday saying Allen's employment status has not changed and asking for public support for Allen and his wife.
"Matt has shown great remorse for his actions and we hope everyone will respect him and his family as they work through this very difficult period in their lives," the statement said.
On Thursday night, Allen and others from the mayor's staff attended a Press Club "Steakout" at the Renaissance Center. It was a fundraiser for the Detroit Press Foundation's journalism scholarship program and the Detroit Goodfellows organization.
Previously a Fox 2 news assignment editor, Allen has worked about 18 months for Kilpatrick.
In September, Allen drew scrutiny when he admitted that for the past four years he had registered his vehicle at his parents' suburban home even though he was living in Detroit, where insurance rates are higher.
Kilpatrick's press secretary arraigned
David Josar
The Detroit News
Friday, November 2, 2007
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071102/UPDATE/711020429/1421/info
DETROIT -- Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's press secretary, Matt Allen, pleaded not guilty to resisting arrest and domestic violence involving his wife and was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond Friday afternoon.
The charges in 36th District Court stem from an incident around 2:30 a.m. at the couple's Indian Village home. According to police records, he and his wife, Tania Allen, got into an argument about his vehicle at which point he allegedly grabbed her about the neck and "shoved her into a wall."
The report said he also pushed her into the bathroom, grabbed her again and "shoved her head into the window," bruising her forehead.
Allen was directed to take an anti-domestic violence class and ordered to have no contact with his wife.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Dec. 13.
"These are very serious charges," Allen's, attorney Richard Steinberg said, but added that the incident was a "quarrel between a man and a woman" and that Allen would be cleared.
Resisting arrest is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and domestic violence assault is a misdemeanor punishable with up to 93 days in jail.
According to a statement from the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Detroit police responded at about 2:35 a.m. to a 911 call to the 2000 block of Seminole, where Allen and his wife, Tania, live with their infant daughter.
When police arrived, according to the statement, a woman who identified herself as Allen's wife stated that there had been an argument and that Allen had shoved her into a wall.
On Friday afternoon, the mayor's office said he would have no comment on the arrest and charges.
"It's a personal matter," said James Canning, the mayor's deputy press secretary.
He added that Allen, 42, still works for the mayor. "His status has not changed."
Calls to Allen's city-issued cell phone went directly to voice mail.
While being detained at the city's Northeast District lock up, Allen was taken to a local hospital because he had a reaction to medication and was then returned to police custody.
On Thursday night, Allen and others from the mayor's staff attended the 2007 Press Club "Steakout" at the Marriott Hotel in the Renaissance Center. The event was a fund-raiser for the Detroit Press Foundation's journalism scholarship program and the Detroit Goodfellows
Last weekend, he and his wife had been in New York City to celebrate the fifth anniversary of their engagement.
Previously a Fox 2 News assignment editor, Allen has worked about 18 months for Kilpatrick.
Before working for Fox 2, he had been a military police officer in the U.S. Army.
In September, Allen drew scrutiny when he admitted that for the past four years he had registered his vehicle at his parents' suburban home even though he was living in Detroit, where insurance rates are higher.
Allen also admitted he had a pair of alcohol-related driving infractions when he was in his 20s.
Channel 7 News has reported that Allen attempted to call Police Chief Ella Bully Cummings when police arrived at his home, but did not reach her.
Kilpatrick's press secretary arrested
Allen charged with domestic abuse, resisting arrest
November 2, 2007
BY BEN SCHMITT AND ZACHARY GORCHOW
Detroit Free Press
http://motorcityliberal.blogspot.com/2007/11/kilpatricks-press-secretary-arrested.html
The attorney for Matt Allen, the press secretary for Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, said he expects him to be arraigned today on domestic abuse charges. Allen’s attorney, Richard Steinberg, said police arrested Allen for domestic violence and resisting and obstructing arrest.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement that police responded at 2:35 a.m. to a 911 call in the 2000 block of Seminole. When police arrived, a woman identifying herself as Allen’s spouse said there had been an argument and that Allen became upset and shoved her into a wall.
The domestic violence charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail. The resisting/obstruction charge is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison.
Allen, a former military police officer, attended the Detroit Press Club Steak Out media event Thursday night that served free beer and wine at the Marriott Hotel inside the Renaissance Center.
Detroit police spokeswoman Yvette Walker said this morning that Allen is in custody and the situation remains under investigation.
She said she was unsure about the extent of injuries to Allen’s wife, who is the complainant.
She declined to release further details.
Steinberg called the incident “a petty quarrel that got blown out of proportion and escalated after the police got involved.” He said Allen’s wife, Tania Allen, called police, but declined to answer who he thought was blowing the incident out of proportion.
“I expect Matt to be completely exonerated,” he said.
Worthy said in her statement: “Domestic violence is a crime that doesn’t discriminate. It has no racial, ethnic or class boundaries. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence please contact your local police department. In an emergency, call 911.”Stewart
McMillin lives two doors down from the Allens. He called Matt Allen a great guy who moved into the neighborhood about four years and fixed up the red brick colonial he shares with his family.
“He cares about this community,’’ McMillin said.
McMillin recalls an incident this summer in which Allen’s wife came to his house one evening and was visibly upset. McMillin said Tania Allen told him that she and her husband had been fighting.
“She was clearly upset and disappointed. She didn’t like the way that Matt was behaving,’’ McMillin said.
When McMillin walked her home, he said, Matt Allen appeared upset. “He swore a little”.
It's not the first time Allen has been in the media spotlight for personal matters.
Allen told the media in September that during the past four years he failed to live full time in the city of Detroit, or keep his automobile registration and insurance registered to his Detroit residence.
Allen said he has owned a home in Detroit, but for personal reasons also has lived at his parents' home in Huntington Woods. Allen's automobile registration and insurance are now registered in Detroit.
In an interview, Allen called the situation an oversight. He declined to elaborate on what the personal reasons were for living in Huntington Woods or how much time he spent there.
A number of city residents register their automobiles to addresses of relatives outside the city to avoid paying higher insurance rates.
Allen denied any effort to pay a lower insurance rate.
In late 2005, Kilpatrick ordered all of his appointees to live in the city.
Read Police Report Of Matt Allen's Arrest
ClickOnDetroit.com
POSTED: 7:08 pm EDT November 2, 2007
UPDATED: 7:31 pm EDT November 2, 2007
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/14500372/detail.html
Officers requested at a priority run to above location on woman assaulted at above location.
Officer recalled this address to be the mayor's press secretary Matthew Allen residence from a prior priority run.
Immediately upon arrival officers requested supervisor to location. Upon arrival officers observed listed victim running from 2115 Seminole screaming "Here I am." victim ran over to officers vehicle in her dark colored gown and white socks and appeared to be emotionally unstable crying and shaking.
Victim stated that her husband came home irate and intoxicated arguing with her over his veh.
Victim stated they were in the upper level of their home in their bedroom arguing.
Victim stated that she attempted to leave the room and walked into the hallway at which time Mr. Allen grabbed her by the back of her neck and shoved her into the wall.
Victim stated her husband then pushed her into the bath room then grabbed her by the back of her neck and shoved her head into the window causing the window to break and a contusion to raise on her head along with small laceration.
Officers prior to entering the residence indicated that there was a handgun.
Officers came to the front door of the residence and after several knocks Mr. Allen came to front door yelling "Tania will you please get the door."
Mr. Allen opened front door and officers asked if all was O.K. at this location and did he know where his wife was.
Mr. Allen stated, "She is upstairs officer's I will get her."
Officer followed Mr. Allen upstairs while Mr. Allen held his daughter in his left arm keeping Mr. Allen in site due to recent information from victim that offender had weapons in house.
Officer observed the glass to the bathroom window broken and glass on the bedroom floor.
Officer was ordered by Mr. Allen in a stern and angry voice to come back down stairs.
Officer followed Mr. Allen back to first level being mindful that per victim there were weapons in the house.
Officer also stood in close proximity to Mr. Allen who appeared intoxicated in fear that he may drop his daughter. I Officer immediately signaled for Mr. Allen to come back to his house from 2115 Seminole.
Upon victim entering into loc. officer asked if offender could give his daughter over to the victim and offender refused holding her tight in his left arm.
Sgts. arrived at the house and talked to victim at the house, while officers stood by. Officers talked about lt.
As officers stood on first level next to Mr. Allen, he was very irate and belligerent with officers picking up his kitchen phone and stating you don't know who I am do you, but you will when I get of the phone with chief Ella Bully Cummings.
Mr. Allen stated to officers to get out of his house and officers refused.
Mr. Allen stated "I own this f****** house and you will do just as I told you to do and leave." Mr.
Allen then stated "Do not walk anywhere in my house." Officer stood to the right side of Mr. Allen at which time Mr. Allen took his right elbow and shoved it into officer’s rib cage area.
Officer advised Mr. Allen to stop at which time Mr. Allen shoved his elbow into officer’s stomach again grinding it into officers left side in presence of officers partner.
Officers stood back and advised Mr. Allen to not do that again and Mr. Allen stated "That’s right you people think this is a joke and you want to put this on a blog don't you."
Officer stated what do you mean by you people and Mr. Allen stated "You black people always want to make things like this don’t you, you don’t like me do you officer ____"
Mr. Allen also continued to yell into officers ear stating "Look me in my face your in my f****** house asshole."
Officers advised to arrest Mr. Allen and conv. to northeast district. Mr. Allen handed his daughter over to victim at which time Mr. Allen was advised of what he was being charged with and that he had to be arrested at which time Mr. Allen stated, "You can not and will not arrest me."
Officer handed Mr. Allen his shoes and placed handcuffs on him and double locked them behind his back.
Officers placed Mr. Allen in scout car and drove in route to northeast district. While officers traveling north on Vandyke approaching Sylvester Mr. Allen took the cuffs pulled them around to the front and started beating on the plexy glass.
Officer advised Mr. Allen to stop and Mr. Allen continued at which time officer pulled vehicle over at Van Dyke and Ruedisale area and asked Mr. Allen out of vehicle to re-position cuffs in fear that offender would injure himself or break glass.
Officer put cuffs behind Mr. Allen and with second pair officers put cuffs through two loops on rear of Mr. Allen’s pants and then on the middle chain of cuffs that were on Mr. Allen to keep Mr. Allen from pulling cuffs back to the front.
Officers then continued to district while Mr. Allen continued to curse officers out stating "You police and Shit you are the worst police I have ever encountered." M Mr. Allen stated "Make sure that’s on your mic, because I saw you wearing it you a** hole."
Mr. Allen then stated, "Run every red light and get me in because I'm high priority you mother f*******."
Officers made northeast detention area with out any further incident and advised the desk on how Mr. Allen did his cuffs.
Officers made above location prior to above date and time a few months ago and Mr. Allen and victim stated all was O.K. and there was no problem at scene.
Victim at time just wanted Mr. Allen to go to sleep in the basement; victim stated Mr. Allen was too intoxicated.
Officers advised all and nothing appeared to be wrong at the time.
Witness stated that victim made her loc. to call police crying and screaming with her gown torn.
Mayor's Press Secretary Offers Tearful Apology
POSTED: 7:04 am EDT November 2, 2007
UPDATED: 12:14 pm EDT November 3, 2007
ClickOnDetroit.com
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/14492102/detail.html
Matt Allen, press secretary for Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, pleaded innocent to charges of domestic violence and resisting arrest Friday afternoon following his early-morning arrest at his Indian Village home.
Police responded to complaints at 2:35 a.m. in the 2100 block of Seminole Street, where an upstairs window was broken.
"Clearly, I have a problem," Allen said in a press conference Friday night.
According to information obtained by Local 4, Allen's wife appeared to neighbors in a nightgown shouting "here I am." The report said her head had been shoved through a plate-glass window. Allen, according to the report, appeared intoxicated and was holding his 14-month-old child in his arms as he elbowed a responding officer in the ribs.
Allen also made some racial slurs to police officers and told them they could not arrest him because he was "high priority," the report said.
Allen's attorney, Richard Steinberg, said that Allen's wife was not harmed and the whole thing was an accident that has been blown out of proportion. He said Allen was not intoxicated and he will defend his client "to the fullest extent."
Allen is now free on $10,000 bond and the judge set a hearing date of Dec. 13. He also ordered Allen to attend domestic violence class, to have no contact with his wife and to submit to alcohol monitoring.
Late Friday night Allen called a press conference with his attorney, Richard Steinberg, and read a statement but would not answer reporter's questions.
Allen broke down when he apologized, "Most importantly to my wife, whom I love deeply, for any emotional or physical pain I have inflicted upon her." He also offered apologies to Mayor Kilpatrick, announcing he will be checking into a treatment center to "Help me get the professional guidance that will help me get my life back on track."
Local Four reporter Mara MacDonald clarified with Allen's attorney that Allen will be seeking treatment for alcohol abuse.
Allen has been Kilpatrick's press secretary for about 18 months.
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