One of two former Warren police officers accused of using unnecessary force during a 2023 traffic stop in neighboring Center Line is going to court to prove his innocence.
A March 17 district court trial has been scheduled for Carlos A. Taylor, 29, who is charged with two misdemeanors in connection with a July 2023 traffic stop of a truck driver who was backing into a loading dock area and blocking traffic. A felony charge against Taylor was previously dismissed.
Taylor is seeking a bench trial in front of Judge Steven Bieda of 37th District Court in Center Line, said his attorney, Marc Curtis, in an interview Wednesday.
“I think these facts are so clear that a judge can look at them and make a decision,” Curtis said. “We don’t need to bother six people in the community and take up the court’s time (in selecting a jury). I think it’s so cut and dry as to what happened here, that Carlos is not guilty.
“Carlos Taylor performed his duties with the utmost honor and respect. He did not use any excessive force. He was under the supervision of his field training officer at the time who is currently charged with felony-level offenses for his behavior at the time.”
Taylor is charged with willful failure to uphold the law by a public official and assault or assault and battery. A felony, misconduct in office, was dismissed by Bieda at the preliminary examination.
Taylor’s co-defendant, Dammeon Player, faces two felony charges for twice deploying a Taser on the driver, Oleh Deka. The charges are misconduct in office, a five-year felony, and assault with a dangerous weapon, a four-year felony.
Player was bound over to Macomb County Circuit Court following the preliminary examination last September and is scheduled for a Feb. 20 pretrial hearing at which his attorneys will ask Judge Michael Servitto to dismiss the charges.
When the incident occurred July 20, 2023, Taylor was a new officer training under Player.
At the prior hearing, defense attorneys said Deka was non-compliant when the officers conducted a traffic stop, refusing to provide his driver’s license or step out of the truck when asked to by the officers. Taylor helped force Deka out of his truck and ultimately took him to the ground after, but only after Deka pulled away, defense attorneys said.
Seconds later, Deka was subdued with an electric stun gun by Player while he lay on the ground, according to testimony. A few seconds later, Player deployed the stun gun again.
Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Dale Vande said what should have been a “minor traffic offense” was “escalated very quickly,” primarily by Player.
Deka was not charged with an offense.
Curtis said Deka testified at that hearing that Taylor treated him with respect and did not strike him. He plans to call as a witness an expert who testified at the exam that Taylor behaved appropriately and within the law.
Both former officers are free on personal bonds.