Detroit, MI — A former Detroit Police Department officer has been sentenced after admitting to improperly accessing and stealing explicit images from a woman’s cellphone while she was in custody during a traffic stop.
Derond Martez Crawford, 34, was sentenced this week to two years of probation, with the final six months to be served in the Wayne County Jail, following a plea agreement in Wayne County Circuit Court.
As part of the deal, he pleaded no contest to misconduct in office, while additional charges including using a computer to commit a crime and interfering with a telecommunications device were dismissed.
According to prosecutors, the incident occurred on March 3, 2026, when Crawford conducted a traffic stop on a 22-year-old woman in Detroit for improper license plates. The woman was arrested on an outstanding warrant and placed in custody.
Authorities say Crawford gained access to the woman’s cellphone under the pretense of contacting her mother. While using the device, he allegedly discovered explicit photos stored on the phone and sent the images to himself without the woman’s consent.
When the woman later received her phone back, she discovered that the images had been forwarded to an email account she did not recognize.
Prosecutors also alleged that Crawford later went to the woman’s home while off duty the following morning, though she did not answer the door.
Crawford resigned from the Detroit Police Department following the investigation and subsequent charges.
In court, prosecutors described the conduct as a serious breach of public trust. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said there was no legitimate reason for Crawford to access anything beyond the victim’s contact information.
As part of his sentencing agreement, Crawford must complete:
50 hours of community service
A psychological evaluation
Impulse control counseling
Employment requirements
No contact with the victim
If he complies with probation conditions, he may avoid additional jail time beyond the six-month term.
The victim, who testified during proceedings, said the incident left her fearful and deeply affected. She criticized the sentence as too lenient, calling it insufficient for the harm caused.
Her attorney has also filed a $15 million civil lawsuit against Crawford, another officer, and the City of Detroit, raising concerns about the handling of personal data and what may have happened to the images.
The case has drawn attention due to concerns over privacy, police misconduct, and the handling of digital evidence involving civilians in custody. Officials say the investigation remains closed following the plea agreement.
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