UPDATE: OFFICER PETTY PLACED BACK ON DUTY AND DV CONVICTION ERASED FROM HIS RECORD: NOVEMBER 2008.
Officer Marvin Petty is still with the Muskegon Heights Police Department following his 2008 conviction for domestic violence.
Car flips, almost hits homeowner
Published: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 5:34 PM
Updated: Friday, November 13, 2009, 5:42 PM
By Heidi Fenton
The Muskegon Chronicle
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2009/11/car_flips_almost_hits_homeowne.html
Mary Allene Salis is breathing a sigh of relief — and for good reason.
The 72-year-old Muskegon Heights woman was blowing leaves in her front yard at 2021 Sixth just after 3:30 p.m. Thursday when suddenly she heard a loud noise. Salis looked up to see a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo barreling over a section of old railroad tracks near her home at a high rate of speed, she said. Minutes later, after swerving from side to side and flipping several times, the car took out her chain link fence and landed upside down on Salis’ front steps — about seven feet from where she stood.
“I was so relieved,” Salis said, staring in bewilderment at pieces of shattered glass all over her front lawn and the frame of her bedroom window — where she spends a large part of her time — punched in.
“I said I was going to do a few more leaves and then go in there and rest. I’m blessed,” she said.
More than 20 neighbors milled around in the roadway as a tow truck removed debris.
Muskegon Heights police officer Marvin Gene Petty said the car’s two occupants, a man and his girlfriend’s 11-year-old son, were uninjured in the crash. Petty estimated the car was traveling about 50 miles an hour.
“He was going at excessive speed over the tracks and flipped his vehicle several times into the house,” Petty said.
Petty transported the car’s driver to Mercy Health Partners’ Hackley Campus to be evaluated for minor cuts and for further questioning.Salis said the driver and his son got out of the car just after the crash and “attempted to run,” but neighbors in the street “wouldn’t let him.”
An investigation into the crash is continuing.
Donald Salis, Mary’s son, lives directly across the street and said he saw the crash while sitting in his car. Donald thought the car had struck his mother.
“She ran, thank God,” he said, explaining how Mary Salis turned and moved around the back side of her house.
“It was completely airborne,” he said of the car.
Fired Heights police officer gets job back
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Muskegon Chronicle
FROM LOCAL REPORTS
http://www.mlive.com/news/chronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1227195919112800.xml&coll=8
MUSKEGON HEIGHTS -- A police officer fired in February after pleading guilty to first-offense domestic violence -- a crime committed while he was on duty in uniform -- has gotten his job back with the Muskegon Heights Police Department.
Marvin Gene Petty will resume his road patrol duties in about two weeks, said Police Chief Clif Johnson. Petty also will receive back pay, but not for the entire time he was off work.
A grievance over the firing had been filed through the Police Officers Association of Michigan, the union representing Muskegon Heights patrol officers.
City Attorney Ted Williams said the ruling that gave Petty his job back came from a labor arbitrator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The ruling was received in late October.
The victim of the domestic violence incident was a woman with whom Petty had a dating relationship. He stopped at her home while on duty, and the two got into an argument.
Sixtieth District Judge Maria Ladas Hoopes suspended a 93-day jail sentence for Petty on the misdemeanor offense, placed him on probation for six months and ordered counseling. He also had to pay fines and costs.
Petty successfully completed his court-ordered probation, and under the terms of the plea, the conviction has been expunged.
Fired Muskegon Heights officer gets his job back
by Local reports The Muskegon Chronicle
Wednesday November 19, 2008, 11:01 PM
http://www.mlive.com/chronicle/news/index.ssf/2008/11/fired_heights_cop_gets_job_bac.html
A police officer fired last February after pleading guilty to first-offense domestic violence -- a crime committed while he was on duty in uniform -- has gotten his job back with the Muskegon Heights Police Department.
Marvin Gene Petty will resume his road patrol duties in about two weeks, said Police Chief Clif Johnson. Petty also will receive back pay, but not for the entire time he was off work.
A grievance over the firing had been filed through the Police Officers Association of Michigan, the union representing Muskegon Heights patrol officers.
City Attorney Ted Williams said the ruling that gave Petty his job back came from a labor arbitrator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The ruling was received in late October.
The victim of the domestic violence incident was a woman with whom Petty had a dating relationship. He stopped at her home while on duty and the two got into an argument.
Sixtieth District Judge Maria Ladas Hoopes suspended a 93-day jail sentence for Petty on the misdemeanor offense, placed him on probation for six months and ordered counseling. He also had to pay fines and costs.
Petty successfully completed his court-ordered probation, and under the terms of the plea, the conviction has been expunged.
Cop fired after guilty plea to domestic violence
Friday, February 29, 2008
By John S. Hausman
The Muskegon Chronicle
MUSKEGON COUNTY -- A Muskegon Heights police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to first-offense domestic violence, under a provision that leaves him with no criminal conviction if he successfully completes mandatory counseling and commits no further offenses during a probationary period.
Officer Marvin Gene Petty committed the assault while on duty and in uniform July 4.
Petty was fired after his guilty plea, Police Chief Clif Johnson said. Johnson said he would not rehire Petty even if the ex-officer successfully completes probation. Johnson declined to comment further, except to call the situation "unfortunate."
Petty, 41, of Roosevelt Park had been on unpaid leave from his job since shortly after the incident.
The victim was a woman with whom Petty had a "dating relationship," according to the court file.
After Petty was charged last July, prosecutors said the allegation was that Petty stopped at the woman's Muskegon home in the 1900 block of Jefferson Street while he was on duty. The two argued, and Petty struck her in the leg with an object police believe was a collapsible baton. She did not sustain any injuries and did not report the incident immediately to Muskegon police, authorities said.
When authorities in Muskegon Heights found out about the allegation, Johnson asked State Police to investigate and suspended Petty.
Petty pleaded guilty as charged to first-offense domestic violence, a misdemeanor.
In cases like Petty's where the defendant has no prior assaultive record, the law allows the judge to defer further proceedings and place the defendant on probation, including an order to undergo mandatory counseling, and then dismiss the case if he successfully completes probation. That provision requires the consent of the prosecutor's office in consultation with the victim, who agreed to it in this case.
After Petty's guilty plea, Muskegon County 60th District Judge Maria Ladas Hoopes sentenced him to 93 days in jail but suspended that sentence, placed him on probation for six months, including the counseling program, and ordered him to pay $500 in fines and costs in monthly $100 payments starting March 28.
The Chronicle Thursday afternoon was unable to reach Petty's attorney, Redford-based George Julian Mertz, assistant general counsel of the Police Officers Association of Michigan, for comment.
POAM is the labor union representing Muskegon Heights police officers.
Officer pleads to charge of domestic violence
Published: Thursday, February 28, 2008, 11:53 PM
Updated: Thursday, February 28, 2008, 11:54 PM
By John S. Hausman
The Muskegon Chronicle
http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2008/02/officer_pleads_to_charge_of_do.html
A Muskegon Heights police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to first-offense domestic violence, under a provision that leaves him with no criminal conviction if he successfully completes mandatory counseling and commits no further offenses during a probationary period.
Officer Marvin Petty
Officer Marvin Gene Petty committed the assault while on duty and in uniform July 4.
Petty was fired after his guilty plea, Police Chief Clif Johnson said. Johnson said he would not rehire Petty even if the ex-officer successfully completes probation.
Johnson declined to comment further, except to call the situation "unfortunate."
Petty, 41, of Roosevelt Park had been on unpaid leave from his job since shortly after the incident.
The victim was a woman with whom Petty had a "dating relationship," according to the court file.
After Petty was charged last July, prosecutors said the allegation was that Petty stopped at the woman's Muskegon home in the 1900 block of Jefferson Street while he was on duty. The two argued, and Petty struck her in the leg with an object police believe was a collapsible baton. She did not sustain any injuries and did not report the incident immediately to Muskegon police, authorities said.
When authorities in Muskegon Heights found out about the allegation, Johnson asked Michigan State Police to investigate and suspended Petty.
Petty pleaded guilty as charged to first-offense domestic violence, a misdemeanor.
In cases like Petty's where the defendant has no prior assaultive record, the law allows the judge to defer further proceedings and place the defendant on probation, including an order to undergo mandatory counseling, and then dismiss the case if he successfully completes probation. That provision requires the consent of the prosecutor's office in consultation with the victim, who agreed to it in this case.
After Petty's guilty plea, Muskegon County 60th District Judge Maria Ladas Hoopes sentenced him to 93 days in jail but suspended that sentence; placed him on probation for six months, including the counseling program; and ordered him to pay $500 in fines and costs, in monthly $100 payments starting March 28.
The Chronicle Thursday afternoon was unable to reach Petty's attorney, Redford-based George Julian Mertz, assistant general counsel of the Police Officers Association of Michigan, for comment. POAM is the labor union representing Muskegon Heights police officers.
Muskegon Heights Officer Arraigned
WZZM13
GRAND RAPIDS
Monday, July 23, 2007
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/regional/lakeshore_article.aspx?storyid=78303
A Muskegon Heights police officer could lose his job if convicted of accusations he hit a woman while on duty.
Marvin Gene Petty, 41, was arraigned this week on a charge of domestic violence.
Prosecutors say Petty got into an argument with a woman he was dating on July fourth while in uniform and on duty.
She told police he hit her in the leg with what officers believe was a collapsible baton.
The Muskegon Heights' police chief suspended Petty, who pled not guilty to the charge.
Cop charged with domestic violence, suspended from post
Saturday, July 21, 2007
By Lisa Medendorp
http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1185012979304010.xml&coll=8
A Muskegon Heights police officer has been arraigned on a domestic violence charge stemming from a July 4 incident that occurred while he was on duty.
He has since been suspended from the force.
Marvin Gene Petty, 41, of Roosevelt Park, was arraigned Thursday before 60th District Judge Michael J. Nolan.Petty entered a not guilty plea to the misdemeanor offense and posted a $3,000 personal recognizance bond.
Michigan State Police were asked to investigate the incident by Muskegon Heights Police Chief Clif Johnson, who suspended Petty.
A condition of Petty's bond is that he have no contact with the alleged victim or her residence, which is in the 1900 block of Jefferson Street in Muskegon.
Brett Gardner, Muskegon County Chief Assistant Prosecutor, said the incident occurred while Petty was in uniform and on duty. The alleged victim is a woman with whom he had a "dating relationship," according to the court file.
"The allegation is that there was a verbal argument between the two and during the argument the victim was struck in the leg," Gardner said.
She said she was struck with an object that police believe was a collapsible baton, Gardner said.
She did not sustain any injuries and did not report the incident immediately to Muskegon police, he said, adding that Petty has denied any physical contact with the woman.
When authorities in Muskegon Heights found out about the allegation, an investigation was started.
A pre-trial conference has been set for Aug. 7.
