Detroit officer accused of felony assault

David Goodman

Thursday, July 12, 2001 | 10:26 a.m.

DETROIT -- A police officer was charged Wednesday with felony assault for beating a man outside a casino, which caught the incident on videotape, authorities said.

Officer Thomas Donahue, 38, has been suspended from duty, Assistant Police Chief Marvin Winkler Jr. said. He is scheduled to be arraigned today on the charge, which carries a maximum four-year prison term.

Donahue and his partner encountered Willie Hamilton, 31, outside the MotorCity Casino about 4 a.m. June 25. The casino had ejected him after finding him asleep at a gambling table, Prosecutor Michael Duggan said.

Donahue and Hamilton exchanged angry words, and the officer grabbed Hamilton, throwing him against a wall and hitting him in the stomach with a flashlight, Duggan said.

Donahue ordered his partner to use pepper spray in Hamilton's face; Donahue then rubbed the pepper spray into Hamilton's skin, Winkler said.

Hamilton was not seriously injured.

Donahue's partner, rookie Officer Elizabeth Driver, seemed to be trying to calm the situation and probably will not face internal discipline, Winkler said.

The five-minute videotape taken by the casino's security system will not be released to avoid prejudicing potential jurors, Duggan said.

Donahue, a 15-year veteran, is represented by the Detroit Police Officers Association. A message left Wednesday for the group's president, Marty Bandemer, was not immediately returned.

MotorCity Casino, controlled by Mandalay Resort Group of Las Vegas, declined comment.