Police Investigate Traffic Stop That May Involve West Bloomfield Supervisor

Chief Michael Patton said Thursday that the department is close to finishing an investigation of a traffic stop that may involve township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste; Ureste's husband, Matthew Ureste, who according to reports may have been drinking and driving; and an unnamed West Bloomfield officer who did not pursue testing.

WDIV-TV’s Mara MacDonald first reported Tuesday that a dashcam video taken from a police squad car showed the Urestes entering a police car to accept a ride home after the traffic stop.

Patton would not comment Thursday on the names of those involved in the stop, which occurred at 2:18 a.m. Aug. 13 at Green Lake and Richardson roads.

Michele Economou Ureste on Thursday called WDIV’s report “defamatory" but would not comment on whether she and her husband were involved in the traffic stop. “A passenger involved in a traffic stop is not relevant,” she said.

Patton said the officer was on patrol and saw a driver run a red light. The officer made the traffic stop and noted “some indication of alcohol consumption,” according to Patton. A preliminary breath test was given, but Patton did not comment on the results of the test, owing to the investigation.

Patton said preliminary breath tests give an officer probable cause to make an arrest. From that point, the driver typically is tested via Breathalyzer, blood or urine screening, which are the only results that may be used in court.

The officer did not pursue those options and drove the two home while another officer provided backup, as per custom for that time of night.

“That’s the nature of our investigation — if there was a breach in our policy,” Patton said, adding that he ordered the investigation Monday after he found out about the traffic stop. 

“It doesn’t appear that there was not any indication to make an arrest. People are going to think there are appearances of favoritism, and I think that’s a valid concern. I’m not happy about this.”

Patton added that the decision to prosecute is now left to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office. Meanwhile, he said, the officer could be subject to disciplinary action but has not been suspended.

Township Trustee Steven Kaplan said Thursday: “There is no evidence that Mr. Ureste had been drinking and driving. On the contrary, there was no sobriety test given, no arrest made and no police report generated.

(Matthew Ureste is) an outstanding representative of the community, and it’s a shame that he can’t vindicate himself, as no video or audio from the traffic stop exists.”

Correction: Patton did in fact say at the time that there was an indication to make an arrest.