‘New’ lawsuit brought by prosecutor brings up old accusations and allegations

by Richard Lamb–Advance Editor

A lawsuit temporarily dismissed in May is back on the table with two new defendants. Presque Isle County prosecuting attorney Rick Steiger’s lawsuit against several members of the Michigan State Police (MSP) has been reborn in the form of a new suit which also names Presque Isle County sheriff Bob Paschke and undersheriff Joe Brewbaker.

The new lawsuit is one of several involving county law enforcement officials.

Sheriff Bob Paschke asked the county board to support him in his effort to get assistance from the Michigan attorney general. (Photo by Richard
Sheriff Bob Paschke asked the county board to support him in his effort to get assistance from the Michigan attorney general. (Photo by Richard Lamb)

Steiger’s original suit, which included a 17-page complaint filed Oct. 27, 2014, named seven officers of the MSP and Huron Undercover Narcotics Team (HUNT) members, was dismissed “without prejudice” in U.S. District Court May 6. The order read “due to unforeseen medical circumstances that have and will temporarily impede the progress of this case,” the case is dismissed without prejudice.

Steiger stated that the attorney for the defendants had some family medical issues. Time to devote to the issue was limited, so the two sides agreed on an order for dismissal, dated May 6.

“(The dismissal) has nothing to do with the merits of the case. It was a courtesy for the attorney on the other side,” Steiger said in May.

The lawsuits have created a strained relationship between the prosecutor and those he has sued. In spite of that, Steiger said business goes on as usual.

“As for the working relations with some MSP officials and Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department (PISD) management, even after the false arrest at issue, as chief law enforcement officer for our county, I have a duty to continue to protect our citizens and seek justice on a daily basis,” Steiger said this week.

At Wednesday’s (Aug. 12, 2015) meeting of the Presque Isle County Commissioners, Paschke asked the commissioners to “join our (he and undersheriff Joe Brewbaker) request to the Michigan Attorney General to assume supervision of the prosecutor’s office. We believe that this is the only way in which cases investigated by us will be processed appropriately and without taint of conflict and interest,” Paschke told the board.

“Mr. Steiger has repeatedly questioned the integrity of officers within our department as well as ourselves, both before this board, to the press and in various letters to government agencies,” Paschke said.

In light of so many deputies being sued from his department, Paschke said he feels this is the best way to serve the public.  He is also seeking input from the Michigan Sheriff’s Association.

Commissioner Mike Darga made the motion to support Paschke’s request and commissioner Steve Lang supported it. But the motion failed by a 4-1 count as the commissioners agreed they should seek outside council on the matter.

THE BASIS FOR Steiger’s lawsuit against the local law enforcement officials goes back several years, he said. The complaint details Steiger’s version of how the MSP came to investigate him for “doctor shopping” which included information given to MSP by Steiger’s ex-wife. The complaint said that during a Dec. 11, 2011 meeting, Steiger “clearly expressed his opinion that the HUNT officers were not doing their job; they were not providing full disclosure of evidence; there was a long history of HUNT officers being deceptive,” and other allegations.

In the case brought against him in 2012, District Court Judge Theodore Johnson ruled there was no fraud committed by Steiger and did not bind the case to Circuit Court. The Michigan attorney general appealed the decision, but a three-judge panel denied the request in March 2013. During Steiger’s preliminary examination in February 2012 in front of Johnson, his attorney Dan White claimed it was a matter of doctors not keeping proper records.

Those named in Steiger’s suit, along with Paschke and Brewbaker, were Lt. Robert Hahn, who was commander of HUNT; Michael Caldwell, commander of MSP; Patrick Boyd, MSP officer assigned as to oversight of HUNT; Delmar Putnam, MSP officer who was commander of HUNT; Ken Mills Jr. MSP officer, commander of Straits Area Narcotics Team (SANE); M

SP officer Alan Burke; and Bradley Szatkowski who was assigned as an undercover officer of HUNT while employed by the PISD.

Steiger said the complaint shows “why they went after me.” Officials from the MSP and the PISD have insisted all allegations have been investigated and were found to be unsubstantiated.

THE JULY 27 lawsuit filed by Steiger is one of at least three others involving local law enforcement officials in the District Court, or recently settled in court.

(More on this story is in the Aug. 13, 2015 edition of the Presque Isle County Advance.)