Killed Melvindale police officer stopped man who shot him for flicking a cigarette
Lincoln Park — The interaction between slain Melvindale police officer Mohamed Said and the man accused of killing him last month began when the man flicked a cigarette on the ground outside a car wash and Said told him to pick it up, according to a witness and footage from Said’s body camera.
During preliminary questioning of Michael Lopez, the man accused of shooting Said, in 25th District Court in Lincoln Park on Monday, Rebecca Davis, a friend of Lopez’s, testified that she was walking with him around 11:30 a.m. on July 21. They were carrying several bags after spending the night at a local hotel in Allen Park when Said stopped his patrol car near a car wash and “crossed the street in a crazy and aggressive manner.”
“He jumped out of his car and started yelling at us,” Davis testified.
Eventually, a scuffle broke out after Said ordered Lopez to pick up the cigarette, causing him to run. After testimony Monday, District Judge Gregory Clifton said there was enough evidence to remand Lopez in District Court.
“The video clearly showed Cpl. Mohamed Said in the middle of interrogating Michael Lopez, and during the interrogation, Mr. Lopez decided to flee the scene,” Clifton said. “Cpl. Mohamed Said pursued him and was eventually able to stun him with a taser. At that point, as is clear from the video, defendant Michael Lopez shot Cpl. Mohamed Said, resulting in his death.”
Lopez, 44, is accused of murdering a police officer and nearly a dozen drug and weapons offenses in connection with Said’s death.
When prosecutors showed Said’s body camera footage in the courtroom on Monday, Said’s family erupted into a fit of rage in the courtroom audience.
Ahmed Said, wearing his brother’s Melvindale police cap, said it was hard to watch the footage of his brother’s final moments, but he felt he had to. He had not seen it before Monday’s hearing.
“He wanted to help him because he thought he was homeless, and then he killed him,” said Ahmed Said. “He’s a clean guy. He doesn’t like it when anyone throws garbage away. So even at home he keeps everything clean. That’s one of the things he always does: keep the city clean, clean of garbage and drugs. That’s what he did.”
Rene Cooper, Lopez’s attorney, declined to object to the new charges.
What the footage showed
According to Said’s body camera footage and Davis’ statement, Said began yelling at Lopez for flicking the cigarette on the ground and ordered him to pick it up.
“We don’t do that shit in Melvindale,” Said said.
Lopez apologized and picked up the cigarette from the floor. Said asked him if he had any weapons, and Lopez said no. Said asked Lopez and Davis for their identification, and when Lopez reached into his pants, Said repeatedly told him to “stop reaching for that.”
Said put on a pair of rubber gloves and Lopez said, “Wow, this is crazy.”
Said ordered him to put his hands up, and Lopez seemed to comply for a moment before running away.
Said followed him through bushes and backyards and fired his Taser at Lopez. He struggled with him on the ground, then Lopez shot him. Assistant District Attorney Rana Hadied said Said was shot in the head.
MSP Detective Sgt. Brittany Ellsworth said when she questioned Lopez after his arrest, he told her he shot Said because he didn’t want to go back to prison.
“He said he wanted to shoot him on purpose because he didn’t want to go back to prison,” Ellsworth said.
Ellsworth allowed him to use her phone to call his daughter, she said, and Lopez again admitted to killing Said.
prehistory
Lopez spent most of the last 12 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections, serving a sentence ranging from 10 1/2 to 30 years. He was released from parole on June 22, about a month before he allegedly shot Said.
Said had been with the Melvindale Police Department for just over a year before his death.
At Monday’s hearing, Ahmed Said said he struggled not to react or scream when Lopez entered the courtroom. Clifton had previously warned spectators that they would be thrown out if they were disruptive. He said he had to be there and be strong for his family.
Ahmed Said said Michigan needs the death penalty. Since Lopez has been in prison before and was released on early parole, he should not get the chance this time, Ahmed Said said.
“If we don’t have this law in Michigan, things will get worse,” Ahmed Said said. “If we introduce the death penalty, they will be afraid to kill or injure police officers.”
