Detroit cop charged with felony torture for breakup fracasThe Detroit News
March 6, 2008
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080306/METRO/803060493/1361PLYMOUTH -- An off-duty Detroit police officer was charged today with six felony crimes including torture and intent to murder for a fight he had while moving his belongings out of his ex-girlfriend's house.
Bond was set at $5 million for Officer Gary Allen Steele, 42, after his arraignment by Judge Michael Gerou in 35th District Court on charges of torture, assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharge inside a building, and use of a firearm during a felony crime. The charges carry punishments of up to life in prison.
Police were called about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday to a Canton Township home Steele had shared with his girlfriend in the 300 block of Pinehurst. Investigators say the 37-year-old woman complained about receiving bumps and bruises during an assault, and Steele allegedly fired a handgun.
"The fight was over the breakup," said Canton Township Police Detective Sgt. Rick Pomorski. "He was moving stuff out. It's her house."
The woman, whom police declined to identify, was not hit by any bullets and did not require hospitalization for her injuries.
Steele was ordered on Thursday to be held in the Wayne County Jail until he is returned to the court for a March 17 preliminary examination. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf by Steele's attorney John Goldpaugh.
Detroit Officer On Other Side Of BarsClick On Detroit
March 6, 2008
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/15515317/detail.html?rss=det&psp=news
CANTON, Mich. -- A 10-year Detroit police veteran accused of beating and torturing his girlfriend was arraigned on multiple charges in a Canton courthouse Thursday.
Gary Allen Steele was arraigned on seven charges including torture, assault with intent to commit murder and discharge of a firearm in a building.
Police said while Steele was off-duty, he attacked his girlfriend in Canton, beat her and fired off his gun.
He could face up to life in prison, if convicted.
Steele will be back in court on March 17.
Court hearing postponed for cop accused of tortureDetroit Free Press
March 17, 2008
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/C5/20080317/NEWS03/80317005/1110/CFP02Gary Allen Steele’s preliminary examination has been postponed until April 11 at the request of his new attorney and the state.
Steele, 42, a Detroit police officer accused of torturing and assaulting his ex-girlfriend, was in court Monday for the exam when his attorney, David Lee, requested that the matter be adjourned.
Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Scott Ehlfeldt gave mutual consent.
When Steele, who had been called a model police officer by his previous attorney, entered the courtroom, his ex-girlfriend, Kimberly Ann Golematis, began crying and left with her supporters. Steele also cried and rested his head on his hand.Steele was arrested March 4 after allegedly firing three shots from his revolver near Golematis at her Canton home. Ehlfeldt, who had pushed for Steele’s $5 million bond, said he struck the victim with a baseball bat and fired at least one of the shots near her head.
The couple, who had been dating for about six months, lived together briefly but were separating.
The charges against Steele include torture and assault with intent to murder, both felonies punishable up to life in prison; assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a 10-year felony; two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, four-year felonies; weapon/firearm discharge in or at a building, a four-year felony and weapons-felony firearm, punishable up to two years.PLYMOUTH: Cop's preliminary exam postponed
Detroit Free Press
March 18, 2008
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/20080318/NEWS02/803180404/1004/NEWSA preliminary examination was postponed Monday for a police officer accused of assaulting and torturing his ex-girlfriend at her Canton home.
The exam for Gary A. Steele was rescheduled for April 11 in 35th District Court in Plymouth.
Steele, 42, is being held in the Wayne County Jail after failing to post 10% of $5-million bond.
He was suspended with pay from the Detroit Police Department. The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners is to decide as early as Thursday whether to suspend Steele without pay.
Steele was arraigned March 6 on charges that include torture and assault with intent to commit murder. He faces life in prison if convicted of the most serious of the charges, police said.
He was arrested March 4 on suspicion of firing three shots during an argument.
Canton Township: Exam in cop's case delayed
Detroit News
March 18, 2008
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/20080318/METRO01/803180321/1410/METRO01A preliminary examination of evidence that a Detroit police officer beat and tortured his ex-girlfriend while packing to leave the Canton Township home they shared was postponed Monday in 35th District Court.
Gary Allen Steele, 42, remains in Wayne County Jail in lieu of $5 million bond since his March 6 arraignment on charges of torture, assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharge of a handgun inside a building, and use of a firearm during a felony crime. The charges are punishable by life in prison.
His 37-year-old ex-girlfriend suffered bumps and bruises during the March 4 incident but wasn't hospitalized, said Canton Township Police. He is to return before Judge Ronald Lowe on April 11.
The meeting of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of the Regular Board of Police Commissioners Meeting
at Police Headquarters, 1300 Beaubien, Detroit, Michigan 48226
Thursday, March 20, 2008.
4. BOPC OFFICER’S REPORT
1. CHAIRPERSON
2. SECRETARY REPORT
SUSPENSION WITHOUT PAY OF POLICE OFFICER GARY STEELE, BADGE 4279, ASSIGNED TO THE NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT
On March 4, 2008, Force Investigation was notified of an incident involving Police Officer Gary Steele, Badge 4279.
Prior to March 4, 2008, the Complainant stated that during the six months that she had been dating Police Officer Steele, she noticed that he had a violent temper and sudden outbursts of anger, which scared her. Therefore, she chose to terminate the relationship.
On March 4, 2008, the Complainant returned home and found Officer Steele moving his belongings from her basement and garage. While moving his belongings, Officer Steele placed her house key and garage door opener on the kitchen counter and began swearing.
When the Complainant told him to leave, he proceeded into the garage and grabbed a bat from the garage and started swinging. The Complainant then moved towards the interior door of the house after repeatedly telling Officer Steele to leave.
Officer Steele walked toward his car in the driveway and the Complainant closed the automatic garage door behind him and closed the interior door.
Officer Steele re-entered the garage using the keypad, grabbed the bat, and hit the Complainant on her right thigh bringing her to her knees.
Officer Steele then picked up the Complainant by her throat, dragged her toward the interior door, and smashed her head through the garage wall. He then choked her and pushed her through the door onto her back.
Officer Steele then got on top of her, held her by her throat, and repeatedly pushed her head into the floor.
Officer Steele drew his revolver and fired three shots into the floor next to the Complainant’s head. He placed the gun to her head and stated, “I will kill you. Do you hear me Kim? I will kill you.”
Officer Steele then told the Complainant to open her mouth so that he could blow her “fucking brains out.” Officer Steele threw his gun across the room and gave her $200.00 for a new cell phone. Officer Steele then got off of her, retrieved his gun, and left the scene.
On that same day, the Canton Police Department dispatched a shots fired police run to the Complainant’s address. The dispatcher also broadcasted that the suspect was an off-duty Detroit police officer and was driving a black Pontiac Grand Prix.
Members of the Canton Police Department conducted a traffic stop on the Grand Prix. Officer Steele was ordered out of his car and onto the ground. He was placed in custody and escorted to the scout car.
A .38 caliber revolver was found in a holster on Officer Steele’s right hip. When Officer Steele was asked if he had fired any shots at the house, he responded by saying, “Yes, it was a stupid thing to do.”
The Canton Police Department recovered the following firearms from the trunk of Officer Steele’s vehicle and placed them on hold “Safe Keeping:”
One 7mm rifle
One .22 caliber rifle
One Marlin rifle
One 12-gauge shotgun
On March 5, 2008, Lieutenant Lynda Hicks, badge L-12, and Sergeant Diaz Graves, badge S-28, both assigned to the Northwestern District, responded to the Canton Police Department and suspended Officer Steele.
On March 5, 2008, Detective Michael Wells, of the Canton Police Department, obtained a seven count felony warrant against Officer Steele charging him with the following:
Count 1. Torture
Count 2. Assault with Intent to Commit Murder
Count 3. Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm less than Murder
Count 4. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Felonious Assault)
Count 5. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Felonious Assault)
Count 6. Weapons-Firearms-Discharge in or at a building
Count 7. Weapons-Felony Firearm
On March 6, 2008, Officer Steele was arraigned on the aforementioned charges before Judge Michael Gerou, of the 35th District Court. Officer Steele was given a bond of $5,000,000.00 / 10%. His exam was scheduled for March 17, 2008 and adjourned to April 11, 2008.
Based on the above circumstances, it is recommended that Police Officer Steele be charged with, but not limited to, the following violation of the Detroit Police Department Rules and Regulations:
CHARGE:
CONDUCT UNBECOMING AN OFFICER, CONTRARY TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE OF ETHICS; THIS BEING IN VIOLATION OF THE 2003 DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT MANUAL SERIES 100, DIRECTIVE 102.3 – 7.9, CONDUCT UNPROFESSIONAL, COMMAND 1.
Due to the seriousness of the conduct, I am requesting your concurrence with the suspension of Officer Steele without pay, effective March 20, 2008.
Unless contravened by this Board the suspension without pay shall stand.
There were no contraventions.
DETROIT: No pay for officer in assault caseDetroit Free Press
March 21, 2008
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080321/NEWS02/803210438/1004A Detroit police officer charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend was suspended Thursday without pay.
The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners suspended Gary A. Steele, 42, of Canton. He was charged earlier this month with torture and assault with intent to commit murder.
Steele was initially suspended with pay following his March 4 arrest for allegedly firing three shots during an argument in a subdivision near Canton Center and Cherry Hill roads. He was off duty at the time.
Steele is being held in the Wayne County Jail after failing to post 10% of $5-million bond. He pleaded not guilty in 35th District Court in Plymouth and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary exam April 11.Detroit cop accused of torture loses pay
Detroit Free Press
March 23, 2008
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/C5/20080323/NEWS03/803230465/1110/CFP02Gary Steele, the Detroit police officer charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend in Canton, was suspended Thursday without pay.
The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners suspended Steele, 42, who was charged earlier this month with torture and assault with intent to commit murder.
Steele was initially suspended with pay following his March 4 arrest for allegedly firing three shots from his revolver during an argument at the woman's home in the Glengary subdivision. He was off duty at the time.
Steele is being held in the Wayne County Jail after failing to post 10 percent of his $5 million bond. He pleaded not guilty in 35th District Court in Plymouth and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary exam on April 11.
Judge refuses to drop charges in torture caseHometown Life
April 13, 2008
http://hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080413/NEWS03/804130510/1020/NEWS03As his ex-girlfriend testified about the day he allegedly assaulted her with a baseball bat and fired a gun near her head, Gary Allen Steele sat with his arms crossed and shook his head.
"Pow. Pow. Pow," Kimberly Ann Golematis said from the witness stand Friday morning at 35th District Court when describing the moment Steele pulled out his revolver and fired the weapon.
Looking directly at Steele, a suspended Detroit police officer, Golematis held her right hand like a gun and testified that he told her, "I will (expletive) kill you."
Steele, 42, has been bound over on seven charges stemming from the March 4 incident. In addition to rejecting the defense's claim that the charges of torture, assault with intent to murder and assault with intent to do great bodily harm were inappropriate, Judge Ronald W. Lowe denied the request to lower Steele's $5 million bond.
"Until this shakes out, (Golematis) is entitled to walk the Earth in no fear of him," he said, adding that he fears for the Canton woman's safety because she's the main thing standing between Steele and his freedom.
Lowe said Steele's occupation provided an additional element to his refusal to lower bond.
"Lawyers, judges and cops (should be) held to a higher standard," he said. "She has testified that he crossed the line."
Golematis testified that she and Steele had ended their six-month relationship when he stopped by her Glengarry subdivision home March 4 to retrieve the last of his items."I was not an angel by any means," she said. "I wasn't gift wrapping his stuff."
With their interaction already tense, Golematis said Steele became violent when he was preparing to leave and she mentioned his Santa Claus statue that was in her garage.
"I said don't forget Santa," she said, adding that he then told her to keep it.
Upon saying that she didn't want it, Golematis kicked the item and said Steele responded by "freaking out."
He supposedly hit her left leg with a baseball bat and then began choking her. When she fell to the ground, Golematis said she landed on the steps in the garage that led to her kitchen.
"Gary Steele got on top of me and straddled me with his weight," she said, adding that he began choking her again and made several references to his former police partner, Brian Vieau, who committed suicide after killing his estranged wife, Tracy Vieau, in February 2007. "He said 'Now I know why Brian did what he did.'"
Golematis said Steele fired three shots into the garage steps near the left side of her head. After placing the gun inside her mouth and to her head, Golematis said Steele appeared to "snap" back to reality when she told him that he was hurting her.
"He said 'I love you. I just love you so much. I would do anything for us.'" Golematis testified, adding that Steele began stroking her hair and saying he should go into the home's basement to see if anything was damaged by the gunshots.
Golematis said she asked Steele to leave and then she called Canton Police.
Upon questioning Golematis, Steele's attorney, David Lee, questioned her reluctance to stay in her township home due to the gunshot holes and suggested that a gun had previously been fired in her home. Golematis denied owning a gun and said there were no other gunshot holes at her residence.
At one point during the cross examination, Lowe scolded Golematis for offering Lee a flippant answer.
Julie Cook, Golematis' friend of 10 years, testified that the alleged attack is "pretty much all that (Golematis) talks about." Cook said Golematis is afraid of retaliation from other police officers and lives in a state of paranoia.
After Cook's testimony, Lee argued that the charges be reduced and that Steele's bond be reduced to $100,000. He said Steele, who has been in custody for more than 40 days, has no evidence of past abuse and has had sufficient "cooling time" and isn't a danger to anyone.
Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Scott Ehlfeldt defended all the charges as relevant and balked at the bond suggested by the defense.
In keeping the bond at its current amount, Lowe said he has "no doubt in my mind" that Golematis is afraid of Steele.
"He's a good person who made a really bad choice," Golematis said.Steele is scheduled to be arraigned in Third Circuit Court on April 25.
The charges against Gary Steele- Torture, a felony punishable up to life in prison.
- Assault with intent to murder, a felony punishable up to life in prison.
- Assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a 10-year felony.
- Two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, four-year felonies.
- Weapon/firearm discharge in or at a building, a four-year felony Weapons-felony firearm, punishable up to two years.
Trial set for cop charged with torturing ex-girlfriendDetroit Free Press
July 16, 2008
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C5/20080716/NEWS03/80716006/1110/CFP02The jury trial for the suspended Detroit police officer accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend has been set for Aug. 13.
Gary Allen Steele, 42, has been detained on a $5 million bond since the March 4 incident. Steele allegedly hit Kimberly Ann Golematis with a baseball bat before firing a gun near her head.The incident occurred at Golematis’ Canton home in the Glengarry subdivision.
The couple had ended their six-month relationship and Steele was at the residence to retrieve the last of his items when the two began arguing.
Golematis, who called the suspended officer a “good person who made a really bad choice,” testified in April that Steele became violent when she kicked his Santa Claus statue and he allegedly hit her leg with the bat. Upon falling to the ground, Golematis said Steele straddled her and made several references to his former police partner, Brian Vieau, who committed suicide after killing his estranged wife, Tracy Vieau, in February 2007.Steele then allegedly fired three gun shots near the left side of Golematis’ head.
The township woman said Steele later told her that he loved her and left her home.
The charges against Steele include torture and assault with intent to murder, both felonies punishable up to life in prison, and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a 10-year felony.
The trial will take place before Judge Ulysses W. Boykin in Wayne County Circuit Court.Trial pushed back for cop accused of torturing girlfriendHometown Life
August 21, 2008
http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080821/NEWS03/80821007The jury trial for a suspended Detroit police officer accused of torturing his ex-girlfriend has been pushed back to December.
The state’s case against Gary Allen Steele, 43, was scheduled to begin Aug. 13 but has been moved to Dec. 15.
The trial will take place before Judge Ulysses W. Boykin in Wayne County Circuit Court. Boykin’s clerk was unavailable for comment on the date change.
Steele, who has been detained on a $5 million bond since the March 4 incident, allegedly hit his former girlfriend, Kimberly Ann Golematis, with a baseball bat before firing a gun near her head.
The incident took place at Golematis’ Canton home after the couple ended their six-month relationship. Golematis testified at Steele’s preliminary exam that he was at her residence to get the last of his items when the two began arguing.
Steele allegedly made Golematis fall after striking her leg with a bat. Golematis said Steele then straddled her and fired three gunshots near the left side of her head. During the incident, Steele allegedly made several references to his former police partner, Brian Vieau, who committed suicide after killing his estranged wife, Tracy Vieau, in February 2007. The incident ended soon after Golematis said she told Steele that he was hurting her.
The charges against Steele include torture and assault with intent to murder, both felonies punishable up to life in prison, and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a 10-year felony.Detroit cop pleads in assault on girlfriendHometown Life
JUNE 14, 2009
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20090614/NEWS03/906140417A suspended Detroit police officer accused of trying to kill his estranged Canton girlfriend pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless use of a firearm.
Gary Steele, 42, could face 90 days in jail and fines when he is sentenced June 23 by Wayne County Circuit Judge Ulysses Boykin.
Numerous felony charges including torture, assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, felonious assault and felony firearm are expected to be dismissed at sentencing, Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Maria Miller said Friday.
Steele could have faced penalties ranging up to life in prison if he had gone to trial and been convicted as charged.
Steele remains suspended and still could face other disciplinary actions after the case has been resolved in court, according to the Detroit Police Department.
Steele was accused of attacking his ex-girlfriend, Kimberly Ann Golematis, when he went to her home in Canton's Glengarry subdivision in March. He was jailed until he posted bond in May, but Boykin had then ordered him to wear a tether.
Golematis testified during a preliminary hearing in April in 35th District Court that Steele choked her, straddled her when she fell to the ground and fired three shots near the left side of her head.
She testified that Steele told her, “I will (expletive) kill you.”
The couple had ended a six-month relationship when Steele went to Golematis' home to get the last of his belongings. The two argued, and Steele was accused of hitting her leg with a baseball bat before the dispute became even more violent.Golematis testified during the hearing that Steele placed the gun inside her mouth and to her head before he appeared to “snap” back to reality, after she told him that he was hurting her. “He said, ‘I love you. I just love you so much. I would do anything for us.'”
Golematis described Steele as “a good person who made a really bad choice.MDOC NUMBER: 732399
CURRENT STATUS: PROBATIONER
LOCATION: WAYNE/DETROIT LAHSER/PROBATION
SECURITY LEVEL:
SUPERVISION BEGIN DATE: 06/23/2009
SUPERVISION DISCHARGE DATE: 06/23/2010
OFFENSE: WEAPONS-FIREARMS-RECKLESS USE
MCL #: 752.863A
COURT FILE # : 08005229-01
COUNTY: WAYNE
CONVICTION TYPE: PLEA
MINIMUM SENTENCE:
MAXIMUM SENTENCE: 1 YEAR 0 MONTHS
DATE OF OFFENSE: 03/04/2008
DATE OF SENTENCE: 06/23/2009
SUERVISION CONDITIONS:
01-NO VIOLATIONS OF ANY CRIMINAL LAW
02-NOT LEAVE STATE W/O PERMISSION
03-MONTHLY REPORTING
03.4-MUST ATTEND PROGRAMS REQUIRED
04-NOTIFY OF CHANGE OF RESIDENCE
04.6-NO CONTACT WITH [NAME]
04.18-BEHAVIOR
08.2-PAY A CRIME VICTIM’S ASSESSMENT
08.3-PAY SUPERVISION FEE PURSUANT TO PA 185 OF 1993
08.4-COURT COST
08.18-STATE COSTS
Probation deal angers women's advocate groupHometown Life
A suspended Detroit police officer who had been charged with firing shots and trying to kill his ex-girlfriend inside her Canton home has been placed on probation for one year — a move that has angered at least one women's advocacy group.
Gary Allen Steele, 42, was sentenced Tuesday by Wayne County Circuit Judge Ulysses Boykin after earlier pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless discharge of a firearm.
Steele, off duty when he was accused of attacking Kimberly Ann Golematis in March 2008, could have faced penalties ranging up to life in prison if he had been convicted of original charges including torture, assault with intent to murder and other felony counts.
Golematis didn't appear for Tuesday's sentencing, Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Maria Miller said, but the victim had said during an earlier preliminary hearing that Steele was “a good person who made a really bad choice.”
Nonetheless, a network calling itself the Michigan Officer Involved Domestic Violence Corp. has criticized what it considers a two-tiered system that favors law-enforcement officers charged with such crimes.
“It is an outrage,” the group's director, Renee Harrington, said. “I can't believe this man was looking at charges carrying life in prison and got probation. What is the message that this has given other victims and police officers?”
Harrington said the advocacy group had contacted state legislators and other officials to try to intervene before Tuesday's sentencing — but she said no response was received.
Steele, who earlier spent months in jail before he was able to post bond, could have faced 90 days in jail when he was sentenced Tuesday. He was ordered by Boykin not to contact the victim.
Miller said Boykin accepted the no contest plea because there's still potential for civil action against Steele.
“The plea was offered by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office in the best interests of justice,” Miller said.
Steele remains suspended and still could face other disciplinary actions, according to the Detroit Police Department.
Golematis testified during an earlier preliminary hearing that Steele choked her, straddled her when she fell to the ground and fired shots near the left side of her head. The incident happened when Steele went to her home to get the last of his belongings after their relationship dissolved.
Golematis earlier testified that Steele appeared to “snap” back to reality after she told him that he was hurting her. She said he told her that he loved her and “would do anything for us.”
