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Deputy Michael Harvey charged with domestic violence [May 13, 2006]:
On February 21, 2006, Deputy Michael Harvey got into a domestic argument with an employee of the prosecutor's office, in the Sheriff Department parking lot. The State Police were called to investigate a "domestic argument". Charges were not filed, but Deputy Harvey did receive a written warning for the incident.
Both the Prosecutor and the Sheriff believed that there was a ' personal relationship' between Harvey and the county employee. Due to that relationship, the Antrim Prosecutor had Deputy Harvey's criminal case reassigned to Grand Traverse County.
GT to prosecute deputy
Case reassigned because of potential witness
Traverse City Record Eagle, MI
By craig mccool
05/31/2006
http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/may/31harvey.htm
BELLAIRE — Prosecution of an assault case against an Antrim County sheriff's deputy has been reassigned to a different county because the witness list could include another Antrim County employee with whom the defendant may have been personally involved, officials said.
Michael Harvey, 34, is accused of threatening his wife with his service handgun while on duty May 13 at the couple's home in Central Lake.
Antrim Prosecutor Charles Koop said he asked the felony assault case against Harvey be reassigned to Grand Traverse County because the witness list includes an employee in his office.
"I made the decision not because he (Harvey) was a county officer, but ... one of my employees might be a witness, Koop said.
The employee is Melissa Rogers, a clerical worker in the prosecutors office. Antrim Sheriff Terry Johnson said he thinks she and Harvey had a personal relationship.
Harvey was reprimanded after a Feb. 21 incident during which he and Rogers argued in the sheriff's department parking lot. Things got so heated that other sheriff's personnel called state police, who investigated, Johnson said.
State police in Kalkaska confirmed they responded to "a domestic argument" involving Harvey that evening at the Antrim dispatch center. Koop said the incident did not lead to charges.
Following the incident, Rogers was warned to stay away from Harvey during work hours unless there was something work-related to discuss, Koop said.
Johnson said Harvey had a "written warning" placed in his personnel file after the incident.
Harvey has been suspended without pay since his arrest.
He recently waived his right to a preliminary examination and was bound over on two counts of felonious assault, Antrim District Court officials said.
Accused deputy's personnel file shows recent problems
Traverse City Record Eagle, MI
By CRAIG McCOOL
06/23/2006
http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/jun/23harvey.htm
BELLAIRE — An Antrim County sheriff's deputy who faces assault and weapons charges seemed a model employee for most of his six years with the department.
Until this year, Michael Harvey, who allegedly threatened to kill his wife with his service gun while on duty in May, received raises and promotions. From the time he was hired in 2000 through the end of 2005, Harvey did not receive a disciplinary letter or citation.
But this February, the deputy with the squeaky-clean record was disciplined twice, including once for drinking heavily the night before he was to work an early shift.
The Record-Eagle obtained a copy of Harvey's personnel file through a state Freedom of Information Act request.
Harvey, 34, was hired in 2000. Between then and the start of this year, he was promoted from the jail to various road patrol assignments.
Shortly after his promotion to the road, a citizen sent a letter to Sheriff Terry Johnson noting Harvey's kindness and "dedication to the community."
Accolades came from superiors, too, but disciplinary warnings began early this year. The first occurred Feb. 21, when Harvey argued with a woman in the county's 911 dispatch area.
Other county employees witnessed the incident and called Michigan State Police, who investigated but did not seek charges. Johnson issued Harvey a warning.
Another incident occurred two days later. On Feb. 23, Harvey was observed drinking in Central Lake, prior to his scheduled 4 a.m. shift.
Johnson wrote that Harvey drove that night to Bellaire, where he was confronted by another Antrim deputy and made to take a preliminary breath test.
Harvey blew a 0.169, more than double the legal driving limit, though the letter addressed no specific concern about drinking and driving.
"In the report it states that you felt you would have been OK to go to work" at 4 a.m., Johnson wrote. "I find this to be a ridiculous statement."
Harvey received a single-day suspension without pay for the drinking incident.
Harvey has been suspended without pay following his arrest May 14.
He faces two felonious assault charges, punishable by up to four years in prison. Prosecutors also recently added a third charge, using a firearm in the commission of a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison, said Harvey's attorney Douglas Gutscher.
