The Detroit News – by Mike Martindale
Two Michigan State Police polygraph experts have upcoming court dates after allegedly taking a bicycle on a late-night joyride between watering holes on Mackinac Island last month.
The two downstate troopers were visiting the picturesque island, where motorized vehicles are banned, to attend a training conference for Michigan lie detector examiners.
Lt. Andrew Longuski, 50, who oversees all State Police lie detector administrators, and Detective Sgt. Derick Jordan, a 45-year-old examiner assigned to the Northville post, are charged with larceny under $200 and disturbing the peace in the off-duty incident, according to court records obtained Monday by The Detroit News.
The pair, who witnesses said were “double riding” the pink-seated bike, were busted late in the evening of May 18 by a St. Ignace state trooper assigned to help other officers keep peace on the island during the tourist season, according to the records filed in 92nd District Court.
“My client was at another bar when Jordan pulled up to him on a bicycle and says ‘Hop on and we’ll go to another bar,’” said attorney Scott Grable, who represents Longuski. “He had no idea there was any questions of ownership or problems with the bike until the state trooper came into Horn’s (Gaslight Pub and Grill) and asked him to step outside.
“He (trooper) wanted to know ‘why did you steal someone’s bike?’” said Grable. “I guess it belongs to someone who works on the island. But Andy didn’t know that and never even considered it. I don’t know if Jordan was confused on whose bike it was or took it by mistake. But he did tell the trooper the same thing: ‘Andy doesn’t know anything about it.’
“I guess things got a little heated but probably no worse than things we’ve heard at a presidential press conference,” said Grable.
Neither man faces any alcohol-related offenses.
“In my mind, it’s simple and comes down to one thing: what did my client know and when did he hear it?”
Jordan’s attorney could not be reached for comment Monday. Mackinac County Prosecutor J. Stuart Spencer declined to comment on the case and Mackinac Island Police Chief Lawrence Horn referred all questions to the Michigan State Police.
In a statement dated May 30, Michigan State Police spokeswoman Shanon Banner confirmed the two men had been arrested,
“The MSP has a long-standing tradition of demanding the highest possible standards of professional conduct from its enforcement and civilian members. To that end, all allegations of misconduct are aggressively investigated,” the statement read. “Alleged violations of administrative rules are also investigated thoroughly and acted upon in a manner consistent with current labor-relations law and bargaining unit agreements. Regardless of whether a criminal charge results in a conviction, employees can still be subject to administrative penalties resulting from violations of department policy.”
Banner would not answer questions about the troopers’ job status.
Both men pleaded not guilty at their arraignments May 30 and were released on personal bond. Longuski is scheduled for a July 10 pretrial hearing in 92nd District Court in St. Ignace. Jordan is to return to court on July 24.
The offenses are both misdemeanors, punishable by fines and up to 93 days in jail.