The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Report finds allegations against officer are unfounded
Councilwoman could face lawsuit
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: July 24, 2008
The attorney for Ypsilanti Police Lt. Craig Annas said he and his client are "weighing their options" after a City Council member reportedly attempted to ruin the lieutenant's reputation.
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According to Annas' attorney Rick Convertino, Ypsilanti City Councilwoman Lois Richardson has "systematically attempted to achieve the total and complete destruction of a good man's reputation and hard-earned character as an outstanding police officer who has served his community for over 20 years."
Convertino said he would be aggressive in the pursuit of justice because the city government is putting up barriers in order to beat down his client in hopes Annas goes away.
"The city is going after the victim in order to try to mitigate damage to the city done by Mrs. Richardson and others," Convertino said.
After allegations were made by Richardson and local activist Lee Tooson at the Dec. 6, 2006 Ypsilanti City Council meeting, City Attorney John Barr hired Allan W. Houghton of Houghton Investigative Services in Saline. Houghton is a retired Michigan State Police detective-sergeant.
Houghton cleared Annas of allegations of improprieties such as stealing, planting evidence, racism and other more vague offenses made by Richardson and Tooson.
In a preliminary report dated Feb. 10, 2007, Houghton details the people he has interviewed since a previous preliminary report five days earlier. In both reports, Houghton details interviews of people whose names were given to him as sources of factual information. None of the interviewees were able to identify Annas as being the officer involved in whatever allegation Houghton was asking about.
But, on the final page of the Feb. 10 report, Houghton reports on a meeting he had with Richardson on Jan. 31, 2007. During that meeting, Houghton asked Richardson how long she had been on the City Council and she had told him five and a half years.
"She went on to say that the city's charter only requires the members to meet once a month, however in recent years, it was decided that they should meet twice a month. For all of this, she is paid only $5,100 annually. She believes the meetings should be cut back to once a month and that the council members should receive a raise.
"It sounds like Ms. Richardson has got Mr. Tooson's ear regarding promoting a raise for the members and Mr. Tooson has Ms. Richardson's ear about attempting to get rid of Lt. Annas and cleaning house at the police department."
Following that Feb. 10, 2007, preliminary report, the reports cease.
In a letter dated April 6, 2007, to City Attorney John M. Barr, Houghton gave a brief overview of his investigation, along with the conclusion that Annas had not be proven to have done any of the things of which he had been accused. The letter, which was to serve as Houghton's final report, is vague in nature, unlike the previous reports issued on Feb. 5 and Feb. 10 of 2007.
While the letter makes clear there was further investigative work done, Houghton only gives his conclusion that none of the allegations against Annas could be proven.
However, under a Freedom of Information Act request, Convertino obtained an e-mail from Houghton to Police Chief Matt Harshberger dated March 13, 2007. It reads: "You have copies of the first couple of reports that I have provided to John Barr. When I had my last person-to-person meeting with John, the city manager, and labor attorney David Kempner, I asked John where my reports were going to end up, i.e. available to the Ann Arbor News via FOIA. John advised me that he wasn't sure . . .yet. So, he told me to provide him with verbal reports until we figure out where the investigation is going. When I checked with his office yesterday to give him an update, I learned that he is out in Colorado for the duration of the week.
"At this point in time, I would feel more comfortable in complying with John's request first before sharing what I have learn [sic]. I sent him an e-mail yesterday just to see if he is checking his e-mail while on his skiing trip. I haven't heard back from him.
"I realize this is not the answer you were expecting or wanted, but I feel I better march to John's drum. (This is nothing personal, I would advise the city manager the same.)"
A call was placed to Richardson on Sunday, and she was asked to comment on the statement by Houghton that she and Tooson had worked together to forward their own agendas.
Richardson said she would comment on the allegations at a later time. She had not contacted The Courier as of press time.
When contacted, Tooson denied working with Richardson to get Annas removed from the police department. Tooson did, however, detail his views about problems with Annas and the department.
Convertino hired Joseph Finnegan, a retired agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to conduct his own investigation into the allegations against Annas.
Finnigan interviewed Houghton on Nov. 5, 2007. During that interview, he asked Houghton about his statement that Richardson and Tooson were working together.
"I asked Mr. Houghton if there might have been a quid pro quo between Richardson and Tooson concerning Richardson's allegations against Lt. Annas and Tooson's recommendation to the City Council that they deserve a raise in pay. Mr. Houghton stated, 'You might be right about that.'"
When contacted, Finnigan confirmed the interview with Houghton. Finnigan said Houghton had been very reluctant to talk with him.
Houghton had explained that he was good friends with John Barr and that their families had vacationed together in the past. Houghton had, however, confirmed he had been told to put no more reports in writing after that of Feb. 10, 2007.
Houghton refused to speak on the record in a telephone interview Monday.
Finnigan interviewed 35 people in an attempt to prove or refute the allegations that continued to be made by Richardson and Tooson against Annas.
Those interviews included three leaders of the local NAACP, six former police chiefs and deputy chiefs, five African American religious leaders, six current or former elected or employed city officials, four law enforcement officers who had worked with Annas, and seven attorneys and private citizens who knew Annas.
Finnigan's conclusion, as stated in his report:
"It is my opinion that Lois Richardson and Lee Tooson have besmirched and smeared the reputation of Lt. Craig Annas. It appears to me that Lois Richardson has acted with reckless disregard for the truth and has exhibited malice toward Lt. Annas. I was unable to corroborate any of the accusations leveled against Lt. Annas. He enjoys an outstanding reputation with both white citizens and African-Americans in the Ypsilanti Community. Lois Richardson approached Chief Matt Harshberger on two occasions and told him not to promote Lt. Annas to the number two position in the department. There is no doubt that both his reputation and his career have been severely damaged."
Kathleen Conat is a longtime Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.
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