Michigan Cop Laughs Off Being Fired After Repeatedly Tasing Black Driver — Then Loses His Job, Gets Charged, and Costs City $1 Million

This headline refers to a real, high-profile case from Melvindale, Michigan (a suburb of Detroit), involving Lt. Matthew Furman of the Melvindale Police Department.

The July 20, 2024 Traffic Stop

Furman pulled over Drakkar Williams (a Black driver) for driving around traffic barricades in a neighborhood. Williams had a revoked license, no insurance on the vehicle, an outstanding warrant, and initially gave a fake name. His girlfriend and two young children (ages 2 and 5) were in the car.

Bodycam footage (from Furman and assisting officers) shows:

• Furman repeatedly ordering Williams out of the vehicle.
• Williams exiting and placing hands on the car roof (which he said was hot).
• A second officer holding Williams’ right hand and shoulder.
• Furman immediately using his Taser in “drive-stun” mode (direct contact, no probes) multiple times on Williams’ arms, legs, and torso — for over 40 seconds total while Williams was being physically held.
• After handcuffing, Furman grabbing Williams by the hair and slamming his head into the side of a fire truck while he was seated and contained.

Key bodycam exchange (while Williams was being held and tased):

• Williams: “You’re losing your job, bro!”
• Furman (laughing): “I’m not losing anything.”
• Williams: “You’re going to lose your badge.”
• Furman: “I ain’t going to lose sh_t, but you’re going to lose your freedom because you’re going to jail, motherf_cker.”

Williams was charged with resisting/obstructing, providing false information, and driving on a revoked license.

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wxyz.com

What Happened Next (2025–2026)

• Williams sued the city for excessive force. In late 2025/early 2026, Melvindale settled for $1 million (covered by the city’s insurance at the time).
• Furman had a documented history of complaints, including prior suspensions, lawsuits over alleged brutality/towing practices, a 2019 assault charge (resolved via plea), and another 2024 tasing of a Black woman (Alicia Cook) in front of her children over expired registration. He was often cleared or reinstated in earlier cases and had supporters who called him a proactive officer.

On February 11–12, 2026:

• New Police Chief Chris Egan fired Furman for cause. The termination letter stated his conduct “warrants termination.”
• The city’s insurance carrier dropped Melvindale as a client due to repeated high-cost lawsuits tied to Furman (leaving the city self-insured and financially exposed).

Furman now faces criminal charges from Wayne County Prosecutor (stemming from the Williams incident + two others):

• 3 felonious counts of official misconduct
• 2 felonious assault
• 3 misdemeanor assault & battery

He pleaded not guilty; trial is scheduled for April 2026. The police union filed a grievance, arguing the firing lacked proper due process/hearing.

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fox2detroit.com

Context and Sources

• Local Detroit-area coverage (WXYZ 7, FOX 2 Detroit, Detroit Free Press) is straightforward and includes bodycam clips, interviews with Furman (who defended his actions as necessary for safety), the mayor (who questioned his de-escalation skills), and supporters in the department.
• Outlets like Atlanta Black Star use stronger language (“violent power-tripping cop,” “racist and corrupt”) and emphasize race, which is part of the public narrative but not the sole framing in official/local reports.
• Settlements like the $1M one do not require an admission of wrongdoing — they’re common to avoid trial expenses/risk.
• Full bodycam videos have been aired by WXYZ and are central to both the civil settlement and criminal case.

Williams was proven right about the job loss and financial cost to the city. Furman is out of a job, facing potential prison time, and the department/city are dealing with fallout. This case highlights ongoing debates about use-of-force, accountability, and the high price tag of police misconduct lawsuits on taxpayers.

For primary footage and updates, check WXYZ Detroit’s investigations page or search “Matthew Furman Melvindale bodycam.” Always go to official/local sources for the raw video over sensational headlines.