Two police officers from Sterling Heights were sent to circuit court on Friday, facing charges of official misconduct and an assault allegation related to their actions during the capture of a man who led police on a chase spanning more than four miles.
Jack Currie, 30, and James Sribniak, 32, were each directed by Judge Alyia Hakim from the 39th District Court in Roseville to appear before Judge Diana Druzinski at the Macomb County Circuit Court next month to address the misconduct charge, which could result in a maximum sentence of five years in prison, related to their involvement in the February 2024 arrest of Gary (also known as Garry) Young in Roseville.
Currie was also directed to the same higher court on an assault charge with the intent to cause physical harm, which could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, following several punches and a few kicks to Young’s head.
Sribniak, a K9 officer, will still be charged with assault using a dangerous weapon, a four-year felony, for letting his dog, “Dusty,” bite Young in the hip while arresting him.
They are set to appear in circuit court on October 6.
Hakim issued a brief decision without providing an in-depth explanation, stating that the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, which filed the charges, fulfilled the requirement for “probable cause,” and the cases should proceed to the higher trial court for further consideration.
Gary (or Garry) Eugene Young MACOMB COUNTY JAIL PHOTO
Lawyer Arthur Weiss of Sribniak expressed “extreme disappointment” with the ruling and criticized the judge for failing to offer an “analysis” of her choice.
Weiss stated he has obtained the more than 1,000-page transcript from the six-day hearing and plans to submit a “motion to quash” arguing that Hakim “misused her authority” by proceeding with the case trial.
Currie’s lawyer, Dan Garon, during his presentation referred to the accusations as an “abomination” and “completely unacceptable.”
After the decision, Garon stated, “It’s hard for me to believe that we have a government that instructs its officers on how to act, and yet when they follow exactly what they were trained to do, the Attorney General’s office charges them with the very actions the government taught them to perform.”
Garon and Weiss contended that their clients operated within the “use of force continuum,” as defined by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, civil law, and the Sterling Heights police policy,
Hayes, nevertheless, claimed that these guidelines have been overridden by criminal law.
Weiss stated that the decision will cause police officers to distance themselves from becoming dog handlers.
While making his case, Hayes mentioned that the event marked the first instance where Sribniak utilized his dog to catch a suspect. He also highlighted a seasoned dog handler who testified at the hearings, stating that his dog only bit a suspect once out of approximately 1,000 potential situations.
Approximately 30 individuals were present at the hearing, including the wives of the defendants, other family members, and supporters of the two suspended officers, many of whom are police officers or connected to law enforcement. The officers are receiving support from their union, which is covering the costs of their legal representation.
While making his case, Assistant Attorney General Robert Hayes informed Hakim that she should mainly focus on the officer’s actions following Young’s stop on the grassy edge beside Gratiot Avenue at the entrance to Interstate 94.
They exceeded what was required to carry out an arrest,” Hayes stated. “They applied force that went beyond the necessary limits. This clearly points to wrongdoing and improper conduct while on duty.
Hakim’s case regarding the 10-year assault charge was resolved after Hayes admitted that a lesser charge, aggravated assault—a misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of one year in jail—would be suitable.
Defense lawyers claimed that Young’s actions during his first encounter with officers in the Jeep Compass he was driving in Sterling Heights, including his attempt to flee from police while driving recklessly, should be taken into account when evaluating the officers’ mental state during his capture.
Michigan Assistant Attorney General Robert Hayes, on the left, presented his case before Judge Alyia Hakim of the 39th District Court in Roseville, as a video clip of defendant Jack Currie striking Gary Young was displayed during Young’s 2024 arrest, for which he faces assault charges. Currie, in the center, is sitting beside his lawyer, Dan Garon. JAMESON COOK — THE MACOMB DAILY
Young’s failure to comply occurred at 4:30 a.m. on February 25, 2024, when officers were initially sent to an apartment complex located at 15 Mile and Moravian roads, where Young was accused of attacking his girlfriend and her family member. From the moment officers approached him, Young did not cooperate and seemed to reach for objects in his car, prompting officers to pull out their weapons. Young then ran away in a Jeep Compass, almost hitting one officer before leading police on a pursuit even though one of the Compass’s tires had been punctured by the use of tire-deflating devices. He was significantly under the influence of alcohol.
The pursuit concluded after two additional tires lost air when Young traversed the Gratiot Avenue median near the Interstate 94 entrance and exit ramps to head north, then turned back south and crashed the car onto the grassy shoulder of the freeway ramp.
Young exited his car from the passenger side, away from the officers, raised his hands, and was then tased. As he fell to the ground, the confrontation began. During the struggle, one officer shouted, “mag,” referring to a gun magazine and the possibility that Young had a weapon. It was later discovered that the magazine belonged to an officer.
The alcohol content in Young’s blood following the incident was 0.19%, exceeding the legal threshold by more than double.
As a result of his actions, Young, who was 36 at the time of the incident, received a 30-day jail sentence in March from Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Richard Caretti after admitting guilt in January to driving while intoxicated with a controlled substance, third-degree evasion of police, and resisting arrest.
Throughout the six-day hearing and once more on Friday, video footage from multiple officers’ body cameras was presented in court.
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