Detroit police lieutenant suspended after viral video with protester

DETROIT – A Detroit A police lieutenant from the police department was suspended after telling a protester, “Go back to Mexico.”

Detroit Police Chief James White said new findings led him to suspend DPD Lt. Brandon Cole.

The confrontation between protester Lexi Zeidan and Cole occurred on Sunday (May 19) in front of Huntington Place during a protest against President Joe Biden’s visit to Detroit for the annual NAACP dinner.

According to police, Cole commented on a public Instagram post that Zeidan recently made while on vacation in Mexico.

Zeidan told Local 4 on Monday that DPD is monitoring her social media.

According to DPD, there is evidence that the protest group has published personal information about officers.

Chief White also says Cole has been suspended without pay.

“Despite the hard work of the officers at the event, the recent protest was one of the larger ones we have dealt with in recent years, which has exposed deficiencies in the unit’s operations. As a result, the department will be reviewing the unit’s leadership practices and ensuring that officers continue to adhere to this department’s policies and training. Where warranted, appropriate changes will be made.”

Detroit Police Chief James White