The Detroit Police Department has transferred its investigations into a Detroit activist and former beau of Mayor Mary Sheffield to an outside agency, the department confirmed Sept. 10, with Chief Todd Bettison under fire for his personal intervention in the cases.
Police investigated activist Jahdante Smith and controversial shelter operator Marvin Walker in July and August, according to prior statements by Bettison, as Smith posted intimate photos to social media showing Walker and Sheffield.
With the two men under investigation, Bettison asked them to take down the photos of Sheffield or stop their dissemination.
Detroit police spokeswoman Jasmin Barmore declined to share which law enforcement agency or agencies took the case and why, saying only: "Every case concerning the two of them, we have referred to another law enforcement agency and if anything else comes in we will also be handing those off to another law enforcement agency."
A source close to the situation who spoke with the Free Press said the FBI has taken over and an internal police timeline posted to social media and verified by the Free Press said that an FBI special agent advised police that the bureau would be "taking the public corruption side of the case" and "no longer be providing case updates to DPD."
The case transfers come as current and former police officials question Bettison's involvement. Bettison said he spoke to Walker about the photos on July 11 and Smith about the photos Aug. 5. The department later obtained a search warrant and seized Smith's cell phone, but said it was related to a separate complaint lodged against Smith for allegedly threatening an acquaintance over the phone and harassing her in social media posts.
The police timeline, a seven-page document first posted by Charlie LeDuff of the Michigan Enjoyer and the No BS Newshour on Sept. 9, describes a "complex crimes" and "cyber crimes" case. It shows a broad line of inquiry into Walker involving potential fraud, an inquiry into Smith related to potential cybercrimes, and weekly meetings with Bettison about case updates.
The Free Press confirmed the document's validity with a department member who was not authorized to speak on the record.
On Aug. 26, DPD gave the FBI "a complete overview of the case from its inception through its current status," and the FBI took its portion of the case on Aug. 31, according to the document. The document leaves unclear which agency initiated the case overview meeting and case transfer.
On Sept. 1, Detroit police requested that Michigan State Police take the case into Smith, but the agency declined, the document said.
FBI Detroit Field Office spokesperson Jordan Hall said in an email that the agency does "not confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation or comment on specific investigative activity, including interviews, meetings, referrals, or the handling of information provided to the FBI.
"As a general matter, the FBI routinely receives and evaluates information from members of the public and other law enforcement agencies," Hall said. "The receipt or review of information does not, by itself, indicate that an investigation has been opened."
Michigan State Police spokesperson Lt. Kim Vetter said Thursday that the agency does "not have an investigation involving" Walker or Smith.
The Michigan Attorney General's Office did not respond to a request for comment. The document shows an official with the agency met with DPD on Aug. 21.
Smith said he's done nothing wrong and Walker did not respond to a request for comment.
The document leaves unclear what potential public corruption was being investigated.
LeDuff and the Michigan Enjoyer have cited Walker as saying he collected kickbacks for Sheffield when she was a city council member – a claim Walker, who has a criminal background of fraud, later denied in an interview with the Free Press.
According to the document, the investigation into Walker involved allegations of deed fraud and possible vehicle-related fraud, and questions about facilities operated by his organization, Detroit Power, and city contracts. No city contracts for Marvin Walker were identified, the document said.
The police document shows one line of inquiry involved Detroit's Buildings Safety Engineering and Environmental Department, where a retired official told investigators he had previously raised concerns about inspections and the alleged improper issuance of certificates of compliance.
Bettison previously told the Free Press he visited a residential building operated by Walker on West Chicago Boulevard on July 11 to follow up on an allegation of human trafficking, but did not see any trafficking activity.
More: Detroit Mayor Sheffield denies allegations ex's cash payments were kickbacks
As for Smith, the document says the department's Cyber Crimes Unit was on July 19 notified of a "possible extortion-related incident" involving Smith and another activist who "were reportedly posting derogatory information concerning Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield," the document said.
The unit submitted a standard request to Facebook parent company Meta asking that the content be removed under the company's bullying and harassment policy concerning public figures, the document says.
Reached by phone Sept. 10, Smith said he's confident he's not the target of any potential investigation by federal authorities or the state.
"I don't think any investigation is gonna come into myself," he said. "The DPD seems to have been weaponized against innocent civilians."
Detroit Free Press investigative reporter Dave Boucher and On Guard government watchdog columnist ML Elrick contributed reporting.
Violet Ikonomova is an investigative reporter at the Free Press focused on government and police accountability in Detroit. Contact her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit police transfer case involving Sheffield ex to outside agency