Scott Ford faces 10 total charges
PETOSKEY -- A former Emmet County sheriff's deputy will go before a judge next month facing numerous crimes investigators say he committed while on duty.
Scott Ford, 39, was arrested Tuesday.
In papers filed Wednesday in 90th District Court in Petoskey, Ford, a nine year veteran of the office, is accused of soliciting sexual favors from a woman while he was on the job. This allegedly happened on several occasions "up and until the date of December 7, 2008," the affidavit stated. Ford met her while she was part of a stalking complaint investigation.
"Deputy Ford was terminated after these allegations surfaced December 19, 2008 at which time I contacted the Michigan Sheriff's Association to conduct an investigation," said Sheriff Pete Wallin.
During the independent investigation conducted by the MSA, it was later learned that a jail inmate also spoke of improper contact with Ford while he was on duty. She claimed in one such instance Ford had groped her during a traffic stop in July of 2008 while her six year old son slept in the backseat.
The woman, who Ford knows through law enforcement contact, also claimed he had come to her residence on several occasions demanding Morphine which she had a prescription for.
According to the affidavit filed with the court, the woman did pass a polygraph test which was administered by the Harbor Springs Police Department.
Because the alleged incident occurred during a traffic stop, 7 and 4 News asked if it was caught on the patrol car's dashboard camera. Sheriff Wallin and the Emmet County Prosecutor were both unable to comment because of the pending litigation.
Ford now faces a total of 10 different misdemeanor and felony charges including:
2 charges of obstruction of justice
2 fourth degree criminal sexual conduct charges
4 felony firearm charges
2 charges of failing to aid a sheriff
"Obviously these are allegations until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law," said James Linderman, prosecuting attorney for Emmet County. "These are the same charges that any other person in the community could be charged with if they did a similar type of conduct." As for Sheriff Wallin, he says his office will not tolerate any kind of misconduct.
"Misconduct as is alleged will not be tolerated by this office," Wallin said, adding "this is not a reflection of the other fine men and women that continue to serve the citizens of Emmet County."
Scott Ford is currently free on a $10,000 bond, but is due back in court April 8 to be formally arraigned.
