Acquitted man sues township for arrest over stolen patrol car 
By Doug Durfee  The Detroit News

A man acquitted of ethnic intimidation charges is suing Plymouth Township 
and the man he was accused of intimidating for $10 million.

Timothy Cruz, 30, is suing the township, its police department and 
officers Eric Merinick and Steven Mann for false arrest, malicious 
prosecution and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Dwayne Jones, 35, an Auburn Hills African American prosecutors said
was the victim of intimidation by Cruz and his brother, is being sued for 
defamation.

Timothy and Anthony Cruz, 27, of Plymouth were arrested after
a fight with Jones at a gas station in Plymouth Township.

Jones also was arrested but released after giving a statement. The Cruz 
brothers were jailed and charged with ethnic intimidation.

Gregory Rohl, Cruz's attorney, said the brothers were arrested because 
two years earlier Anthony Cruz made police look foolish when he
stole Mann's patrol car.

"The officer in charge of the whole prosecution is the same officer who
lost a car and a gun (to Anthony Crur)," Rohi said. "He hovered over
Tony Cruz and said `I've got you now. You're going to get yours."'


Anthony Cruz drove off in Mann's patrol car in March as officers 
were investigating a suspected stolen car in which he was riding.


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