A special thank you to a reader for emailing me with info on this case - a tremendous help in watching over victims/survivors and in keeping the MIOIDV Project updated. Thank you.
Renee Harrington
Farmington Hills police officer accused of domestic violence, firing gun, stalking another officer
Mario Vekic arrested by Warren police officers while on duty
Click On Detroit
February 20, 2020
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – A Farmington Hills police officer is accused of domestic violence, improperly firing a gun and stalking a fellow officer at the department, authorities said.
Mario Vekic is a former Detroit police officer who graduated from the Detroit Police Academy in 2017, officials said.
He jumped to a job in Farmington Hills, and a few months later, another officer was hired at the department, according to police. An apparent police department relationship formed, but then it turned criminal, officials said.
Police in Warren said they received a report of stalking and domestic violence, and learned that a gun has been fired.
Warren police officers went to the Farmington Hills Police Department on Wednesday to arrest Vekic while he was on duty.
Vekic is charged with discharging a firearm out of a building, stalking and domestic violence. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Farmington Hills police officer accused of domestic violence in Warren
WXYZ-TV Detroit
February 20, 2020
Warren PD Investigator: "She has been slapped, choked and physically thrown around by Vekic...Saw damage in her house of which was caused by Vekic bouncing her head off of these walls...He fired the gun in her house right at the kitchen table in her presence right in front of her face...The victim resigned from the department due to ongoing problems with Officer Mario Vekic.."
Officer Mario Vekic's defense attorney: "I would just ask for a lower personal bond, Your Honor.
Judge: "That's not gonna happen. We're not gonna have another dead domestic partner situation..."
WARREN, Mich. (WXYZ) — He has been called numerous times to respond to domestic violence in his role as a police officer. Now a Farmington Hills police officer is accused of the crime.
Mario Vekic was in jail as 37th District Court Judge Michael Chupa arraigned him, by video, on charges of discharging a firearm into a building, stalking and domestic violence.
Investigators with Warren Police told the judge that his girlfriend of seven months, who is also a Farmington Hills police officer, survived repeated violence at her home in Warren.
They told the judge she was slapped, choked, and physically thrown around in her home by Vekic.
They saw damage in her house. Some of it was caused by Vekic bouncing her head off the walls.
He allegedly fired a gun in her house during a fight.
She told police she resigned from her job at Farmington Hills Police Department because she feared for her life. Now that he is facing charges she is hoping to be reinstated.
Defense attorney Randy Rodnick tells 7 Action News Vekic accidentally fired the gun back in January. He says the allegations are only coming out now because his ex is angry.
“None of this came up until now, because of the break up. I think that has a lot to do with it, but we will see,” said Rodnick.
“We are not going to have another dead domestic partner situation,“ said Judge Chupa, when the defense asked for a low personal bond.
The judge set Vekic’s bond at $50,000 cash.
Vekic has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Oakland County police officer accused of shooting at girlfriend in Warren
Oakland Press
February 20, 2020
An off-duty Oakland County police officer charged Thursday with shooting at his girlfriend -- a former police officer -- in Warren has been suspended from the department, according to police and the officer's attorney.
Mario Vekic, an officer with the Farmington Hills Police Department, was arraigned in 37th District Court on charges of discharging a weapon inside of a building, a 10-year felony. He also is charged with stalking and domestic violence, both misdemeanors.
The incident happened earlier this month at the female officer's residence in Warren.
"As soon as we learned about it, he was immediately placed on leave, which is unpaid," said Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King.
According to a news release from Farmington Hills police, the department received a complaint Feb. 17 alleging that an officer had engaged in unlawful conduct while off-duty.
Command officers examined the complaint, determined the alleged incident took place in Warren and advised the Warren Police Department. Farmington Hills cooperated with their counterparts in Warren in all aspects of the investigation.
An arrest warrant was authorized on Wednesday, according to the release.
Police say the female officer, who has since resigned from the department, was slapped, choked and kicked by Vekic, who also is accused of slamming her head into the wall of her residence.
Randy Rodnick, the officer's Warren-based attorney, said the officers had been dating for some time. He said the shooting allegation stemmed from an accidental discharge of Vekic's duty revolver back in January.
The female officer was not struck by the gunfire.
Rodnick said it appears the female only reported the incident recently because she was upset over the couple's breakup.
"This is an unfortunate situation for everyone involved," Rodnick said. "My client has no prior record and is a police officer. These allegations obviously could affect his job with the Farmington Hills Police Department."
Judge Michael C. Chupa of the 37th District Court set bond for the defendant at $50,000 cash or surety. Vekic is next due in court on March 3.
The officer was hired by Farmington Hills police in February 2018. He previously worked for one year with the Detroit Police Department.
Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer referred a reporter to Farmington Hills police for information on the case. Dwyer is a longtime former Farmington Hills police chief and former member of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
Oakland County police officer accused of shooting at girlfriend in Warren
Royal Oak Daily Tribune
February 20, 2020
An off-duty Oakland County police officer charged Thursday with shooting at his girlfriend -- a former police officer -- in Warren has been suspended from the department, according to police and the officer's attorney.
Mario Vekic, an officer with the Farmington Hills Police Department, was arraigned in 37th District Court on charges of discharging a weapon inside of a building, a 10-year felony. He also is charged with stalking and domestic violence, both misdemeanors.
The incident happened earlier this month at the female officer's residence in Warren.
"As soon as we learned about it, he was immediately placed on leave, which is unpaid," said Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King.
According to a news release from Farmington Hills police, the department received a complaint Feb. 17 alleging that an officer had engaged in unlawful conduct while off-duty.
Command officers examined the complaint, determined the alleged incident took place in Warren and advised the Warren Police Department. Farmington Hills cooperated with their counterparts in Warren in all aspects of the investigation.
An arrest warrant was authorized on Wednesday, according to the release.
Police say the female officer, who has since resigned from the department, was slapped, choked and kicked by Vekic, who also is accused of slamming her head into the wall of her residence.
Randy Rodnick, the officer's Warren-based attorney, said the officers had been dating for some time. He said the shooting allegation stemmed from an accidental discharge of Vekic's duty revolver back in January.
The female officer was not struck by the gunfire.
Rodnick said it appears the female only reported the incident recently because she was upset over the couple's breakup.
"This is an unfortunate situation for everyone involved," Rodnick said. "My client has no prior record and is a police officer. These allegations obviously could affect his job with the Farmington Hills Police Department."
Judge Michael C. Chupa of the 37th District Court set bond for the defendant at $50,000 cash or surety. Vekic is next due in court on March 3.
The officer was hired by Farmington Hills police in February 2018. He previously worked for one year with the Detroit Police Department.
Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer referred a reporter to Farmington Hills police for information on the case. Dwyer is a longtime former Farmington Hills police chief and former member of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
Oakland County police officer accused of shooting at girlfriend in Warren
Macomb Daily
February 20, 2020
An off-duty Oakland County police officer charged Thursday with shooting at his girlfriend -- a former police officer -- in Warren has been suspended from the department, according to police and the officer's attorney.
Mario Vekic, an officer with the Farmington Hills Police Department, was arraigned in 37th District Court on charges of discharging a weapon inside of a building, a 10-year felony. He also is charged with stalking and domestic violence, both misdemeanors.
The incident happened earlier this month at the female officer's residence in Warren.
"As soon as we learned about it, he was immediately placed on leave, which is unpaid," said Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King.
According to a news release from Farmington Hills police, the department received a complaint Feb. 17 alleging that an officer had engaged in unlawful conduct while off-duty.
Command officers examined the complaint, determined the alleged incident took place in Warren and advised the Warren Police Department. Farmington Hills cooperated with their counterparts in Warren in all aspects of the investigation.
An arrest warrant was authorized on Wednesday, according to the release.
Police say the female officer, who has since resigned from the department, was slapped, choked and kicked by Vekic, who also is accused of slamming her head into the wall of her residence.
Randy Rodnick, the officer's Warren-based attorney, said the officers had been dating for some time. He said the shooting allegation stemmed from an accidental discharge of Vekic's duty revolver back in January.
The female officer was not struck by the gunfire.
Rodnick said it appears the female only reported the incident recently because she was upset over the couple's breakup.
"This is an unfortunate situation for everyone involved," Rodnick said. "My client has no prior record and is a police officer. These allegations obviously could affect his job with the Farmington Hills Police Department."
Judge Michael C. Chupa of the 37th District Court set bond for the defendant at $50,000 cash or surety. Vekic is next due in court on March 3.
The officer was hired by Farmington Hills police in February 2018. He previously worked for one year with the Detroit Police Department.
Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer referred a reporter to Farmington Hills police for information on the case. Dwyer is a longtime former Farmington Hills police chief and former member of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
Farmington Hills police officer arraigned on domestic violence charges
Farmington Press
February 20, 2020
FARMINGTON HILLS/WARREN — A Farmington Hills police officer has been arraigned on domestic violence charges after a complaint was sent to Farmington Hills police by another police officer in the department last week.
The officers charged has been identified by Warren and Farmington Hills police officials as Mario Vekic.
Vekic was reportedly in a workplace romance with another Farmington Hills police officer when the two broke up around Valentine’s Day, Vekic’s attorney, Randy Rodnick, said. The complaint followed shortly after.
Farmington Hills police received the complaint Feb. 17 alleging that one of their officers “engaged in unlawful off-duty conduct,” according to a press release. After the department’s command staff examined the complaint, they determined the alleged conduct took place in Warren.
“No criminal activity occurred in Farmington Hills,” Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King said.
The department immediately advised Warren police of the reported incident. Farmington Hills officials said they have cooperated with Warren police officials during all appropriate aspects of the investigation. King added that his department has “facilitated anything we could give them.”
Warren police then notified Farmington Hills police on Feb. 19 that an arrest warrant was authorized. They arrested Vekic at the Farmington Hills Police Department Feb. 19 while he was on duty.
Vekic was arraigned in 37th District Court Feb. 20 before Judge Michael Chupa on three charges: discharge of a weapon inside a building — a felony of up to 10 years in prison — stalking and domestic violence. His bail was set at 50,000 cash or surety, with a GPS tether upon release.
According to police, the female officer reported that Vekic slapped, kicked and choked her at her home in Warren, as well as stalked her.
The discharge of a weapon also occurred in the home, though Rodnick said that charge is unrelated to the domestic violence charges. The female officer was not hit by gunfire.
“Evidently, the discharge occurred allegedly maybe four weeks earlier, five weeks earlier, maybe two months earlier, something like that. It was unrelated,” Rodnick said. “My understanding is it was accidental.”
Vekic is next due in court March 3 before Judge Suzanne Faunce. He is currently out on bond with a GPS tether.
“It’s an unfortunate situation. It obviously affects his job as a police officer. We’ll see how that goes,” Rodnick said.
At press time, King could not comment much on the investigation, deferring to the Warren Police Department.
“The criminal investigation is being conducted by Warren police and is still active,” he said. “It’s a continuing investigation. … It’s improper for me to make a comment on their investigation.”
The officer has been placed on unpaid leave with the Farmington Hills Police Department, pending further investigation.
“Because of employment law and the procedure due process, there has been no decision made, but we are in the process of handling the preliminary investigation internally (and) administratively,” King said. “We’ll be moving forward with that at the appropriate time.”
Vekic was hired by the Farmington Hills Police Department in 2018, after graduating from the Detroit Police Academy in 2017 and serving a short stint with Detroit PD. The female officer who reported the complaint has since left her post with the Farmington Hills Police Department.
Farmington Hills police officer on leave after arrest
Farmington Voice
February 20, 2020
A Farmington Hills Police officer is on unpaid leave following his arrest on charges related to an alleged incident of domestic violence.
According to a press release, the department received a complaint on Monday about “unlawful behavior” by an officer. Police determined the incident happened in Warren, and notified the Warren Police Department.
Warren Police arrested the officer, identified by WDIV-TV as Mario Vekic, on Wednesday.
Vekic was hired by the department in February of 2018, after working for a year with the Detroit Police Department.
Farmington Hills officer accused of domestic violence on leave
The Detroit News
February 20, 2020
A Farmington Hills police officer is on leave after being charged with domestic violence in Macomb County, authorities announced Thursday.
In addition to a domestic violence charge, Mario Vekic was arraigned in 37th District Court in Warren for discharging a firearm into a building and stalking, said his attorney, Randy Rodnick.
Vekic pleaded not guilty. He was released on a $50,000 bond, Rodnick said.
Farmington Hills police received a complaint Monday alleging that one of their officers "had engaged in unlawful off-duty conduct," the department said in a statement. They learned the alleged incident happened in Warren and contacted the city's Police Department, according to the release.
"The Farmington Hills Police Department cooperated with Warren Police Department investigators in all appropriate aspects of the investigation," the statement said. "On Wednesday ... Warren investigators notified the Farmington Hills Police Department that an arrest warrant was authorized."
Rodnick said Vekic accidentally discharged a weapon in January when reaching for it while wearing a brace on his injured wrist. Vekic and his girlfriend, who is a police officer, also "pushed each other" during an argument before they broke up this month, but he denies assaulting or stalking the woman, Rodnick said.
Warren police officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case.
A probable cause conference is scheduled for next month, Rodnick said.
Vekic remains on an unpaid leave pending further investigation, Farmington Hills police said Thursday.
Police Investigate Domestic Violence Situation
CBS Detroit
February 21, 2020
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (CBS Detroit) – The Farmington Hills Police Department received a complaint on Monday, February 17, alleging that a Farmington Hills police officer had engaged in unlawful off-duty conduct.
The Farmington Hills Police Department examined the complaint, determined that the situation occurred in the city of Warren, and notified the Warren Police Department of the information they received.
On Wednesday, February 19, Warren investigators notified the Farmington Hills Police Department that an arrest warrant was authorized.
The Warren Police Department arraigned the officer on the authorized charges on Thursday, February 20. The officer was placed on unpaid leave until further investigation occurs.
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