The Detroit Police Department has officially relinquished control of its active investigations concerning a local activist and a former romantic partner of Mayor Mary Sheffield, transferring the files to external law enforcement following mounting scrutiny over Police Chief Todd Bettison's personal intervention in the matters.
Department officials confirmed the jurisdictional transfer in early September, acknowledging that all investigative materials concerning activist Jahdante Smith and shelter operator Marvin Walker have been referred elsewhere. Department spokeswoman Jasmin Barmore stated that every case involving the two men has been handed off to another agency, adding that any future complaints or incoming information related to either individual will likewise be redirected outside the municipal department.
The decision to transfer the inquiries follows criticism from current and former law enforcement personnel regarding Chief Bettison's direct role in the matter. During the summer, while Walker and Smith were both subjects of active police inquiries, Bettison personally contacted the men to request that they cease distributing and immediately take down intimate photographs of Sheffield that had surfaced on social media platforms.
According to Bettison’s previous statements, the chief spoke directly with Walker regarding the sensitive imagery on July 11. Several weeks later, on August 5, Bettison contacted Smith to address the social media postings depicting Walker and the mayor. The dual nature of Bettison’s personal communications while his department was simultaneously investigating both individuals has prompted questions regarding potential conflicts of interest and administrative boundaries.
Following those direct conversations, the Detroit Police Department executed a search warrant and confiscated Smith’s mobile phone. While the timing drew scrutiny, the department maintained that the warrant stemmed from an entirely separate criminal complaint. Authorities stated the separate matter involved allegations that Smith threatened an acquaintance over the telephone and subjected her to ongoing harassment through online posts.
The scope of the department’s inquiries was outlined in an internal seven-page police timeline that was published online by commentator Charlie LeDuff through the Michigan Enjoyer and the No BS Newshour on September 9. The validity of the internal log, which outlines investigations into both "complex crimes" and "cyber crimes," was subsequently confirmed by a department member who was not authorized to speak publicly.
According to the leaked timeline, investigators had been conducting a wide-ranging examination of Walker’s activities, focusing on potential fraud schemes. The document indicates detectives looked into allegations of deed fraud, vehicle-related fraud, and the operational status of facilities managed under Walker's organization, Detroit Power. Investigators also scrutinized whether Walker held any active municipal contracts with the city, though no such contracts were identified.
Concurrently, the police log revealed that investigators were examining Smith for potential cybercrimes while Chief Bettison received regular weekly briefings on the status of both files. The timeline documents that on August 21, department officials held a meeting with a representative from the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to discuss the ongoing inquiries.
Days later, on August 26, the Detroit Police Department delivered an exhaustive briefing to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, providing federal agents with a complete summary of the case from its inception to its status at the time. A source familiar with the matter indicated that the FBI assumed responsibility for the case, and the internal timeline noted that an FBI special agent formally advised Detroit police on August 31 that the bureau would handle the public corruption aspect of the investigation.
The federal agent further informed local authorities that the FBI would discontinue providing routine case progress updates to the Detroit Police Department moving forward. The internal records leave it unclear which law enforcement agency initiated the original August 26 briefing or prompted the subsequent transfer of investigative authority.
In addition to federal involvement, the internal documentation revealed that Detroit police sought to hand off the cybercrimes probe into Smith to state authorities. On September 1, the department formally requested that the Michigan State Police assume control of Smith’s case; however, the state agency declined to accept the referral.
Addressing the situation, Michigan State Police spokesperson Lt. Kim Vetter confirmed that the state agency maintains no active investigation concerning either Walker or Smith. Similarly, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office did not respond to requests for comment regarding its earlier August 21 meeting with city police officials.
When asked about the federal takeover, Jordan Hall, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, maintained the bureau's standard policy of neither confirming nor denying the existence of active investigations, specific interviews, or inter-agency case referrals. Hall noted that receiving and reviewing information from other departments is routine procedure and does not inherently indicate that a formal investigation has been launched.
The underlying public corruption concerns referenced in the internal logs trace back in part to claims surrounding Walker, a shelter operator who possesses a prior criminal record for fraud. LeDuff and the Michigan Enjoyer had previously reported that Walker claimed to have collected kickback payments on behalf of Sheffield during her tenure as a member of the Detroit City Council.
However, Walker subsequently recanted those statements during an interview with the Detroit Free Press, denying that he had participated in any kickback scheme involving the mayor. Mayor Sheffield has strongly refuted allegations that any monetary transactions involving her former partner constituted unlawful kickbacks or municipal misconduct.
Throughout the controversy, Smith has maintained his innocence, stating that he committed no wrongdoing in connection with the social media posts or the related allegations. Walker did not respond to requests for comment regarding the transfer of the cases, as outside authorities now review the broader circumstances surrounding the probes.
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