An independent investigation has substantiated multiple allegations against Hamtramck Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri, including driving a city vehicle after drinking alcohol and pressuring officers to help in a custody dispute.

Watch video reports from Randy Wimbley and Brittany Toolis: Investigation finds Hamtramck police chief violated policies Investigation finds Hamtramck police chief violated policies

The city reportedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for the investigation after a memo from a city employee began circulating, alleging the chief acted improperly on several occasions and may have broken the law.

The investigation, conducted by law firm Miller Johnson, combed through more than half a million documents and included about 40 witness interviews. The findings were released Sunday.

Report released into Hamtramck misconduct report by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit

Substantiated allegations against chief

The investigation found several allegations against Altaheri to be true, including:

Driving a city vehicle after drinking alcohol Pressuring officers to help in a custody dispute Handing a loaded gun to a civilian volunteer and instructing them to put it to someone's head

Residents are calling for immediate action from city leadership.

"I would get fired if I worked like that at my job, doing side deals and took people's safety lightly. I wouldn't have a job," said Tracy Pilcher.

Mark Armand said city leaders need to step up.

"Do what's right for the city. If somebody did all those things they are accused of, then they shouldn't be in charge of anybody," Armand said.

Other officials investigated

The report also examined allegations against Officer David Adamczyk and City Manager Max Garbarino. All three officials are currently on administrative leave.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Whistleblower lawsuit filed against Hamtramck city leaders details alleged corruption Whistleblower lawsuit filed against Hamtramck city leaders detail alleged corruption

The investigation found Adamczyk committed overtime abuse and violated policies regarding stolen property, among other violations.

Regarding Garbarino, the investigation largely did not substantiate the initial allegations against him, but found he exercised poor judgment in his role as city manager, including delaying addressing allegations of misconduct by Altaheri and Adamczyk.

Garbarino told me by phone he would have taken action sooner, but claims Mayor Amer Ghalib told him he had no authority to do so.

"Max was just doing his job. He was a whistleblower, and he came out and did his job, and he shouldn't have been suspended," Armand said.

City officials decline comment

The report was posted on the city's website and taken down soon after, but not before 7 News Detroit downloaded the document.

I reached out to the city's mayor and every member of the city council for comment, but received no responses. I also reached out to Hamtramck's police chief, but have not yet heard back.

The report's findings are set to be discussed at Tuesday's city council meeting.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison says many of the recent shootings plaguing the city are gang-related, prompting law enforcement to execute raids while community leaders work to get young people off the streets.

Watch Randy's full story in the video player below: Detroit police target gang violence with raids as community leaders urge change

The raids occurred Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Several shootings have occurred on Detroit's east side, and some impacted innocent bystanders.

"We got a lot of high-powered weapons off the street, I'm talking ARs, assault rifles, revolvers, shotguns, etc," Bettison said. "Going after groups and gangs that are causing violence in the city."

Related Video: Detroit police execute 11 search warrants, recover 40+ weapons in violence crackdown Detroit police execute 11 search warrants, recover 40+ weapons in violence crackdownCommunity exhausted by violence

Ray Winans, a community leader and former gang member with the CVI Group Detroit Friends and Family, said residents are fed up with the ongoing violence.

"The community is tired, man. The community is tired. PeopleI'm tired of going to funerals. I got two funerals this week," Winans said.

Winans works to reduce violence by helping young men who want to leave street life. His organization delivers a clear message to those involved in gang activity.

FULL INTERVIEW: Community leader Ray Winans talks about violence in Detroit FULL INTERVIEW: Community leader Ray Winans talks about violence in Detroit

"Bro, either you're going to roll with the community or you're going to get rolled over by this d*** law enforcement agency," Winans said.

Gang structure differs from other cities

Former FBI agent and Detroit Crime Commission boss Andy Arena said gangs have always existed in Detroit, but operate differently than in other major cities.

"Gangs have always been in Detroit," Arena said. "There's less structure with gangs in Detroit than they are in LA or Chicago."

Arena explained that the lack of structure contributes to innocent people getting hurt.

"Gangs are not like FBI agents: they're not qualifying with the firearms eight times a year, right, they go out there and they're gonna start spraying right, so that's when you get the collateral damage," Arena said.

Former gang members working for change

Winans is working alongside men like Kurteiz Thompson, a former Vice Lord who spent years in federal prison on a RICO conviction and now helps shooters and gang members leave the lifestyle.

"If you looking for change man, it's time man, because here in the next few weeks, the next few months, it might be too late," Thompson said.

Winans warned that more law enforcement action is coming.

"Did you see what Bettison said? D*** the raids. He said indictments is coming, man," Winans said.

Innocent victims caught in crossfire

For people like Tarhesha Love, justice cannot come soon enough. Her 6-year-old son Rylee was struck by a stray bullet during a drive-by shooting earlier this month.

Related Story: Mom of boy killed by stray bullet in Detroit speaks out 'I hope they get life.' Mom of boy killed by stray bullet in Detroit speaks out

"This whole summer, that's all you hear is babies dying," Love said. "Karma is coming. Karma is coming."

Police are still investigating several high-profile shootings. Anyone with information is asked to call Detroit Police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

EXTENDED INTERVIEW: Tarhesha Love talks about losing her son to gun violence EXTENDED INTERVIEW: Tarhesha Love talks about losing her son to gun violence

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The Detroit Police Athletic League has suspended the Eastside Colts youth sports organization for one year following an altercation between coaches and a referee at a fundraising game.

The incident occurred at a non-PAL-sanctioned 12-and-under game nearly two weeks ago in Warren, where tempers flared as coaches from the Eastside Colts got into a confrontation with a referee.

Related Story: Detroit youth football coaches, referee suspended after altercation at benefit game Detroit youth football coaches, referee suspended after altercation at benefit game

Bobby Christian, president of the Eastside Colts, said the punishment is too severe and will ultimately hurt children who had nothing to do with the incident.

"PAL is a great organization, the only issue I have with PAL is we never fault children for adult matters," Christian said.

Christian acknowledged his coaches were wrong and said he suspended them personally after the incident.

Extended interview: President of Eastside Colts football team talks about the fallout after on-field incident WEb Extra: President of the Eastside Colts football team talks about the fallout after on-field incident

"My coaches are completely wrong. I suspended them myself. I suspended them personally. You guys are done. They're completely wrong, but I'm not sure how many times you can poke a person before they black out," Christian said.

Christian alleged the referee used inappropriate language during the game.

"What was this referee doing? A lot of things you can't say on TV," Christian said. "You B this. You A that. I'll kill you this."

PAL enforces zero-tolerance policy

Detroit PAL initially handed out indefinite suspensions for the coaches and referee involved. The organization has now expanded the punishment to include the entire Eastside Colts organization, which includes both football and cheer teams.

In a statement, Detroit PAL said:

"Detroit PAL is committed to ensuring that every child who participates in our programs has a safe, positive, and fun experience on and off the field. Following a recent incident at an unsanctioned football game involving a PAL team, Detroit PAL conducted a thorough review. As a result of that investigation, the team involved has been suspended from participation in PAL programming for one year.In addition, Detroit PAL has reiterated to all coaches, referees, players, and families that we are strictly enforcing a zero-tolerance policy regarding fighting and poor sportsmanship. These measures are necessary to uphold the values of respect, teamwork, and integrity that are central to our mission.Our priority will always be to protect our young athletes and provide them with a supportive environment to grow, learn, and enjoy the game."Impact on young athletes

The suspension has already affected other teams within the organization. Rachelle Copeland, an Eastside Colts mom and cheer coach, said her team was unable to participate in a cheer jamboree.

"We were supposed to do a cheer jamboree that was just this past Sunday and we couldn't participate," Copeland said. "My girls are suffering from that and a lot of my girls, this is the only thing that they really have that's fun, something that's structured, something that brings positivity to them."

Related Video: Altercation unfolds between coaches and referee at youth football game WEB VIDEO: Altercation between coaches and referee at youth football game

Christian argued the punishment should have been limited to the coaches of the 12-and-under team involved in the incident.

"Canceling the 12U coaches or maybe even the 12U completely would've been warranted, but canceling a 6U, a 8U, a 10U, a 13U, a 14U that wasn't even there, that didn't even know what was going on? That's completely unfair. And they told me they weren't going to do that," Christian said.

However, other PAL parents support the organization's decision. Kenthia Morton said a line has to be drawn.

"They have to take a stand somewhere, to let it know it's not going to be tolerated. Unfortunately, it involves kids, but kids can ... switch over to a different team," Morton said.

Christian says he's already lost roughly 50 players. He plans to appeal PAL's decision but admits he's not sure if that effort will be successful.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Police have two persons of interest in custody in connection with the death of 15-year-old Lawrence Dowl, whose body was discovered in a Detroit cemetery last week.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison confirmed both individuals are adults who knew Lawrence.

"We do have two persons of interest in custody," Bettison said.

Watch the video report below: Two persons of interest in custody after teen found dead in Detroit cemetery

The teen's body was found a day after he was reported missing. According to police, one of the persons of interest turned himself in to another police agency on an unrelated case, while Detroit officers arrested the other the weekend.

Dowl was last seen last Tuesday when one of his friends, who is approximately 22 years old, picked him up to go to the store. The teen never returned home.

Previous coverage: Family seeks answers after 15-year-old found dead in Detroit cemetery Family seeks answers after 15-year-old found dead in Detroit cemetery

When officers discovered Dowl's body, he was wearing a ski mask and gloves, which Bettison suggested might indicate the teen was involved in questionable behavior.

"We've received numerous tips from the community basically telling me about his background and what he does and what he did do. I don't want to disclose that or disparage because he is a teen. I hold the adults responsible," Bettison said.

Hear more from Chief Todd Bettison below: DPD chief provides update on teen found dead in cemetery

Dowl's sister believes something may have gone wrong during his outing with older individuals.

"I honestly feel like maybe the guys bribed him to do something, to go do something and then it went bad. Or maybe they was lying, telling him they was gonna go do something and was really trying to do something to him. And for what reason, I wouldn't know," she said.

The teen's family described themselves as angry and devastated, saying news of people in custody provides little comfort as they seek answers about what happened to Lawrence.

Previous coverage: Body of missing 15-year-old boy found inside Detroit cemetery, homicide team investigating Body of missing 15-year-old boy found inside Detroit cemetery, homicide team investigating

This case comes as Detroit police crack down on violent crime that has made headlines this summer. The department is working with U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon, who is assigning more prosecutors to gun crime and gang violence cases in Detroit. The feds recently unsealed eight felony firearm cases amid the crackdown.

Bettison urged parents to be more vigilant about their children's activities.

"We've already increased the fee schedule for parental responsibility tickets, but know where your kids are. But not only know where they are, know who they're hanging with," Bettison said.

Previous coverage: Parental fines increased, curfew violations decriminalized by city of Detroit Detroit City Council passes new curfew ordinance

Detroit police are currently working to send a warrant request to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office for the persons of interest in Lawrence's death.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.