(WWJ) – Former Bay City Public Service Director Michael Cecchini has been charged with assault and battery for allegedly confronting three teenagers who were riding rented scooters in a parking lot and jabbing one of them with a flashlight.
Cecchini announced his retirement on Oct. 2, a few weeks after the alleged incident.
Cecchini, 56, will be arraigned on the misdemeanor charge Thursday in 74th District Court, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Monday.
Nessel’s office says Cecchini used his badge to confront the teens, who were riding rented Bird scooters in an apartment parking lot.
One of the teens used his phone to record most of the incident on video, which shows Cecchini threatening the teens with physical violence and arrest.
He goes on to jab one of the teens in the lower chest area with the butt of the flashlight he was carrying. Cecchini continued to argue with the teen until police arrived.
In the video, Cecchini is heard telling the teens they were “disturbing the peace.” After the teen accuses him of committing battery and tells his friend to call the police, he is seen flashing his badge and saying “nope, I’m the chief of police.”
“It doesn’t work that way, dude,” the teen replies.
"You're gonna tell me the law? What, are you some legal scholar on the Supreme Court?" Cecchini says.
The video ends with Cecchini saying off camera "I'm gonna beat your a**."
“No one is above the law, and members of law enforcement should not expect special treatment when they abuse their authority,” Nessel said in a press release.
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