By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
SOUTHGATE – A Circuit Court Judge will hear arguments on Nov. 15 to determine if a former Southgate police officer will face a jury in an alleged hit-and-run accident.
Mitchell Heaney, 25, is charged with failure to stop at the scene of a serious personal injury accident, a five-year felony. According to court records, Heaney allegedly hit a motorcycle rider on Telegraph Road about 5 a.m. Aug. 22, driving a vehicle belonging to a friend. Among other pieces of evidence, the vehicle’s bumper and license plate were left at the scene after the collision, which resulted in extensive injuries to the motorcycle rider.
A preliminary exam was held Tuesday in Woodhaven’s 33rd District Court before Judge Jennifer Coleman Hessen, which reportedly included testimony from the accident victim and an eyewitness.
Southgate Police Chief Jeffrey Meussner confirmed that Heaney was dismissed from the department shortly after his initial arraignment in September. The department placed Heaney on leave until an internal investigation resulted in his discharge.
Heaney remained free on $10,000 bond following the arraignment. In addition to the felony crime, he is charged with misdemeanors for a moving violation causing serious impairment of a body function, and failure to stop at a property damage accident, each carrying a potential sentence of 90 days in jail.