Former Police Sergeant Found Guilty of Ethnic Intimidation and Assault in Detroit Casino Incident

Westland – In a significant legal turn of events, a former police sergeant, Kevin Yudt, was found guilty on Friday in the Third Circuit Court. The charges against him included two counts of ethnic intimidation and one count of assault and battery.

Yudt, who is 43 years old and from Grass Lake, is facing severe penalties—a potential two years in prison for each of the felony counts of ethnic intimidation, along with a possible 93-day jail sentence for the misdemeanor assault and battery charge. These legal troubles stem from an incident that took place on April 6, 2023, at the MGM Grand Detroit casino.

On that day, security personnel at the casino stopped Yudt from entering the casino floor due to his apparent intoxication. In response, Yudt became aggressive, identifying himself as a police sergeant and threatening security staff members by saying, “I’ll be waiting for you when you come to Westland, and you will not survive.” He proceeded to poke a security guard in the chest while hurling racial slurs.

Due to this alarming behavior, Yudt was dismissed from the Westland Police Department the following month, in May 2023. Charges were officially brought against him in May 2024, following the investigation into the incident.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a statement highlighting the significance of the verdict. She emphasized, “No one is above the law, and I applaud the jury for their service and commitment to justice.” Nessel condemned Yudt’s actions, stating that such behavior is unacceptable, especially from those meant to protect the community.

The former sergeant is scheduled to be sentenced on December 6 at the Third Circuit Court, where he could face serious repercussions for his actions.