By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
SOUTHGATE – Former Southgate Police officer Emmanual Paravas was arraigned Tuesday before Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David Groner on charges of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, a 15-year felony.
Paravas, 42, resigned from the Southgate Police Department in March after allegations were made that he sexually abused a woman who, earlier that February evening, he encountered while investigating a domestic disturbance call.
The alleged incidents took place Feb. 9 and were reported to the Michigan State Police five days later.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Paravas and another officer responded to a domestic disturbance call at 1 a.m. from the La Quinta Hotel on Reek Road. The alleged victim and her husband arrived at the hotel that afternoon and, according to testimony given last month, she spent much of the late afternoon and evening drinking. Once back at the hotel, she and her husband continued arguing, and the police were called.
Paravas reportedly took the woman to another hotel, the Holiday Inn on Northline Road, to provide separation between the sparring couple.
Allegedly, Paravas returned to the woman’s Holiday Inn room several hours later and sexually assaulted her.
Judge Groner and attorneys were to meet Friday to determine a schedule for future court proceedings.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected])