CHICAGO — After spending the night in jail, Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick was released Friday morning, only to face hours later two new felony charges that he shoved a Sheriff's Department investigator last month.
The charges -- assaulting or obstructing an officer -- are tied to an alleged July 24 incident in which an investigator tried to serve a subpoena to a friend of Kilpatrick's who is a witness in a pending perjury and obstruction of justice case against the mayor.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Monday, August 11, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 36 words Type of Material: Correction
Detroit mayor: An article in Saturday's Section A about the legal troubles of Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick referred to U.S. Circuit Court Judge Thomas Jackson. Jackson is in fact a Wayne County Circuit Court judge.
Wayne County Sheriff's Department Det. Brian White testified in court last month that he and his partner went to the home of the mayor's sister to serve a subpoena to Bobby Ferguson. White said the mayor shouted vulgarities at him and then shoved him into JoAnne Kinney, an investigator for the Wayne County prosecutor.
Both investigators told the court that the mayor, who is African American, also made racially charged comments to White, who is white, and Kinney, who is black.
According to the complaint, Kilpatrick told Kinney, "You should be ashamed of yourself for being a black woman and working this case. How could you even ride in the same car with him, especially someone named White?"
Michigan Atty. Gen. Mike Cox said in a statement, "In my almost 20 years as a prosecutor and now as attorney general, I cannot recall one case where someone ever assaulted a police officer as he or she tried to serve a witness."
Kilpatrick pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Friday afternoon. He later posted a $25,000 bond and returned to work at City Hall, where he met with his staff and thanked them for their hard work during trying times.
Kilpatrick's defense team described the incident as a calm exchange of words between the investigators and the mayor, and that the mayor, a former football player, peacefully escorted the pair off his sister's property.
The complaint is based on "a set-up," said James Thomas, attorney for the two-term mayor. "Under the color of his badge, [White] tried to push his way around. When he was asked to leave twice, he didn't."
A preliminary hearing is set for next week.
Kilpatrick was already facing eight felony charges -- including perjury, misconduct and obstruction of justice.
He and former top aide Christine Beatty testified last year in a public whistle-blower trial that they did not have a romantic relationship. The Detroit Free Press later published excerpts from more than 14,000 text messages sent to and from Beatty's city-provided pager. Kilpatrick sent one to Beatty in 2002 that read, "I'm madly in love with you."
