GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. – The Grosse Pointe Farms city prosecutor is not pursuing a misdemeanor charge against Edsel Ford II, the great-grandson of Henry Ford, after he was arrested on allegations of domestic abuse.
Grosse Pointe Farms Public Safety Director Daniel Jensen said the 67-year-old was arrested Monday night at his home on Lakeshore Road after his wife called 911. Jensen said Ford was arrested according to domestic violence guidelines, but the offense did not rise to the level of felony assault.
“There was minimal, but there was contact, and at the time, Mrs. Ford did want to pursue charges," Jensen said. “The only really evidence here was that there was a sign that there had been a physical altercation. There was no knock-out, drag-out battle here, but hands were placed on each other … that takes it from a level of a verbal assault to a physical assault.”
The physical contact happened while Ford's wife was recording him on a cellphone, Jensen said.
"I believe there was some alcohol involved," he said.
There were no witnesses and no "obvious signs" of physical injuries, Jensen said.
Prosecutor Robert Ihrie denied a warrant for charges after reviewing the police department's report, and speaking to Ford's wife, Jensen said.
Ford was released from police custody at about 11:45 a.m. Tuesday.
About Edsel Ford II
Ford was elected to the Ford Motor Company board of directors in 1988 and serves on the finance committee and sustainability and innovation committee.
In a statement to Local 4, the company said it would be "inappropriate to comment on personal matters."
According to his bio on company's website, Ford is married to the former Cynthia Layne Neskow. They have four sons.