Detroit cop named in $10 million lawsuit never fired despite history of racism, drunk driving and domestic abuse
A Detroit police sergeant who is facing a $10 million wrongful arrest lawsuit by a woman who was accused of credit card theft, only to have the charged later dropped, was almost fired from his department in 2020 after he abused his girlfriend and called her the N-word, WXYZ reported.
Sgt. Samuel Pionessa's near-firing came after a 23-year career of incidents involving his misconduct. He has caused at least two vehicle accidents, one of which occurred when his blood-alcohol content was more than two-and-a-half times the legal limit. He once crashed a department vehicle and then left the scene. He's been the subject of 61 citizen complaints over his career that range from excessive force to improper searches.
"There’s no excuse for his continued employment after this," said attorney Brandon McNeal, who represents Sandra Wilson, who is suing Pionessa for wrongful arrest.
Pionessa's then-girfriend said she was woken up in the early hours of November 2018 when Pionessa screamed at her and repeatedly calling her the N-word. She tried to hide in the bathroom and said he continued screaming the N-word and then “kicked in the bedroom door.”
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She said he assaulted her, “grabbing her by the back of her neck and pulling her backwards.”
Pionessa was charged with domestic violence, but pleaded no contest to destruction of property. He was sentenced to nine months probation. He agreed to seek treatment for alcohol abuse and was ordered to serve a 20-day suspension.
“And did Sgt. Pionessa actually serve the suspension? No,” McNeal said. “We have documentation showing he used his comp time, in lieu of serving a suspension. That’s not discipline. That’s not leadership.”
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