Police bodycams show Michigan State Police trooper punching, knocking out handcuffed Saginaw man

In March, Saginaw resident Vance D. Martin was pulled over by Michigan State Police troopers after reportedly speeding and running two stop signs. In the following half-hour or so, things would escalate to the point that a trooper repeatedly punched a handcuffed Martin in the face.

Months on, two MSP troopers and two Saginaw Police Department officers are facing criminal charges stemming from their interaction with Martin.

While video footage of the incident recorded by a civilian bystander was previously published on MLive, the Saginaw Police Department has now released footage recorded by its officers.

Via a Freedom of Information Act request, MLive-The Saginaw News obtained four videos totaling about 90 minutes. The cumulative footage was recorded by cameras worn by Saginaw Police Officers Jordan Engelhart and Dominic Vasquez and their vehicles’ dashboard-mounted cameras.

The footage begins with Engelhart and Vasquez arriving on the scene of a traffic stop initiated by MSP troopers in the 2300 block of Annesley Street about 7:15 p.m. on March 28. Already stopped by troopers is a red Pontiac Grand Am, with 47-year-old Martin — the driver — already standing outside the car, his wrists cuffed behind his back as troopers search him.

Engelhart instructs an adult male passenger to exit the car, then handcuffs him as well.

As this occurs, Martin repeatedly asks why he was stopped and professes his innocence of any wrongdoing.

“They ain’t got no bodycam or nothing,” Martin says, referring to the troopers.

“I got a bodycam, boss,” Engelhart tells him. “You’re alright.”

Engelhart then searches the Pontiac’s passenger, removing items from his pockets. Meanwhile, MSP Troopers Bram L. Schroeder and Zachary W. Tebedo try putting Martin in the backseat of one of their patrol cars, with Tebedo holding a Taser toward Martin while doing so.

Engelhart encourages Martin to get in the car as he resists, assuring him everything is on camera.

“Get in the car, man,” one officer says.

“I’m about to, but this guy about to—”

Schroeder then punches Martin once squarely in his face, causing him to drop to the ground, his knees buckled beneath him.

Martin loudly groans as officers ask him about his breathing. Officers also radio for medical personnel to come to the scene.

Moments later, Vasquez stands beside Martin as he’s seated on the ground, leaning against the rear passenger-side tire of the MSP patrol car. Vasquez speaks with him, offering to help him stand. Vasquez assures him his bodycam is on.

“I’m with the city police,” Vasquez says. “This ain’t my gig, bro. I’m here, if you want help, I’ll help you. If you want help up, I’ll help you up.”

Martin asks Vasquez to let him out of the handcuffs but the officer replies he cannot do that. After several minutes, Vasquez and a trooper hoist Martin to his feet and lean him against the side of the patrol car.

Several minutes after Schroeder punches Martin, Mobile Medical Response personnel arrive and speak with Martin. He expresses confusion but declines their offer to take him to a hospital.

Officers then resume trying to get Martin in their car as he repeatedly shouts he does not know what’s going on.

“This (expletive) trying to kill me,” Martin yells, after which Schroeder punches him two or three more times in his face. This second round of punches happens about 14 minutes after Schroeder first punches Martin.

Martin again falls to the ground and continues shouting to civilian bystanders. The officers then place Martin in the back of the patrol car.

Police reports previously obtained by MLive from the MSP via the Freedom of Information Act state troopers noticed the Pontiac turn onto eastbound Annesley Street at a high rate of speed. Troopers’ radar indicated the Pontiac was going 46 mph in a 25-mph zone, their reports state.

Troopers pulled over the Pontiac in the 2300 block of Annesley Street after Martin failed to stop at two stop signs. Troopers wrote in their reports that Martin was uncooperative, failing to provide identification or step out of the Pontiac.

Police searched the Pontiac and found open bottles of Michelob Ultra and Seagram’s Extra Smooth Vodka. Troopers wrote in their reports that Martin had bloodshot eyes, smelled strongly of intoxicants, had slurred speech, was lethargic, and displayed severe mood swings, leading them to believe he was intoxicated. They were unable to administer a preliminary Breathalyzer test to Martin at the scene.

Martin slept in the troopers’ car as they drove him to Covenant HealthCare for an evaluation and a chemical blood draw. The results of the blood draw have not been made public.