DETROIT – A police officer who has been with the Detroit Police Department for the past four years has been charged in connection to the murder of a man in Highland Park.
Elijah Lately, 25, is accused of knowing about a conspiracy to kill Brandon Rice and doing nothing to help stop it. Lately is charged with two counts of lying to a police officer during a violent crime investigation.
Rice was killed April 23 in the 300 block of Elmhurst in Highland Park. Dmarco Hoskins is charged with murder, conspiracy and witness intimidation in Rice's death. A pretrial conference is Friday.
Rice was to testify against Hoskins in a separate case.
A four-month investigation by the Detroit Homicide Task Force led to charges against Lately. The Wayne County Prosecutor's office says Lately knew of the plan to kill Rice, the identities of people involved and details about the homicide scene. He was identified as a potential witness to the murder and denied twice any involvement in or knowledge of it, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
"The allegations against the officer in this case are deeply disturbing. I would like to commend the Detroit Homicide Task Force and the members of my office for their excellent work," said Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy.
He has been suspended by the department. He was arrested and is being held in jail on a $400,000 bond.