REDFORD TWP., Mich. (WXYZ) — A Detroit Police Department spokesperson was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving at the end of last month in Redford Township.
Watch Tony Geftos' video report:
Body camera video captured the interaction between Redford Township police and Detroit Police Officer Jalon Nelson, 28, in the parking lot of a White Castle near Telegraph and Schoolcraft. Nelson was later confirmed as off-duty when the incident occurred at about 2 a.m. on Friday, July 31.
Redford Township officers responded after receiving multiple calls about a police vehicle parked on the grass in front of the White Castle with its emergency lights activated. When officers arrived, they found Nelson in the back seat of a Detroit Police vehicle.
Nelson works in media relations for the Detroit Police Department and is a familiar face as a frequent spokesperson in the department's social media videos.
After refusing the field sobriety test, Nelson was taken to the Redford Township Police Station. Court records show he was charged with operating with a blood alcohol content of .17 or more.
Residents in Redford and Detroit called the arrest disappointing.
"He knows he screwed up. Yeah. They're not above the law themselves. That's the thing. Too bad. I hate to hear it. I hate to see it," Bob Myrick said.
"For me it's uh it's not acceptable, uh, because I was always taught we're supposed to respect the police and police are supposed to respect the laws and everything else and it's totally inappropriate behavior," Thomas Taylor said.
In response to the arrest, Detroit Police released a statement, saying in part:
"The officer is currently on administrative leave while we actively review this matter. If it is determined that the officer violated the law or department policy, that individual will be held accountable."
During the interaction, Nelson appealed to the officers' shared profession.
"We're in this profession together. Yeah, so you should understand where we're coming from. I do understand, ma'am. I do. So I would love to help you. I would love to make your night easier. I understand. I'm trying to help you out. I understand. If you're good enough to drive home, then you would do these so we can all go about our way and you could go home," Nelson said in the video.
Court records show Nelson was released after posting a $350 bond. His pre-trial hearing is set for September 9.
Redford Township police said they are not commenting on their investigation.
——————————————————————————————————————————
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
