Michigan: Witness says former chief knew of illegal gambling

Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000 | 1:31 a.m.

Restaurant owner Sami Matti also said an aide to Baird, Frank Brafford, tried to dissuade police from seizing video poker games and other evidence at the May 1997 raid.

The inquiry involves Mayor Mark Steenbergh, his former police commissioner and allegations of rigged bids, campaign finance abuses and police corruption, The Detroit News reported Sunday.

After Matti's testimony, the federal prosecutor supervising the Warren probe intervened on the man's behalf in Macomb County Circuit Court.

Matti had been convicted in Warren district court of two misdemeanor gambling charges in connection with the raid. But Circuit Judge Lido Bucci overturned the conviction at the request of Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Cares last month.

Originally, a jury convicted Matti, 46, of possessing gambling equipment and running a gambling house.

Macomb County Prosecutor Carl Marlinga said, "Without his testimony (to the grand jury), this case against Mr. Matti would not have been dismissed."

Baird quit last July, a week after FBI agents searched his office and seized his pay and travel records and questioned his purchase and registration of a $100,000 motor home.

Matti's testimony pushed federal agents to look closer at Baird.

"From early on, unfortunately, I think Jack Baird has been viewed as a target," his attorney, Stephen Rabaut, told The Detroit News.

"Many people have been subpoenaed. The problem is nobody knows who's telling the truth - and people are willing to take each other out in Warren politics," said Rabaut, who proclaimed his client's innocence. "Jack Baird has lived up to his duties as a law enforcement officer."

Brafford, who resigned as Warren's deputy personnel director, testified before the grand jury in August about the raid. Brafford said the FBI has told him he is not a target.