DEARBORN
– A Dearborn police officer has been arraigned on a sex charge after he
allegedly groped a female acquaintance during a traffic stop in May, according
to the police department.

Officer
Justin Smith, 36, faces a second-degree criminal sexual conduct charge and
common law offenses, officials said in a statement. He was arraigned Thursday
in 19th District Court and released on a $10,000 personal bond.

He
is due back in court Friday for a probable cause hearing and Sept. 9 for his
preliminary examination. Court records have been sealed from the public.

The
charges stem from an alleged incident in May during a traffic stop involving
Smith’s female acquaintance, police said Tuesday. He is accused of “improper
touching” during the incident. Police did not provide an exact date of the
alleged offense.

Dearborn
Police Chief Ron Haddad released a statement about the case on Tuesday.

“The
Dearborn Police Department is committed to remaining completely transparent in
matters of this nature and we will continue to do that during the course of
this investigation,” Haddad said. “An on-going internal investigation is
underway and we will continue to monitor the criminal case in court.”

Smith
is suspended without pay pending the outcome of the case.

The
allegations against Smith mark the latest in a string of setbacks involving
police officers in the department.

Two
officers remain under leave of absence following the fatal shootings of two
Detroit residents in two separate incidents.

The
Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has still not announced whether there will be
charges against the officers who fatally shot Kevin Matthew, 35, and Janet
Wilson, 31.

Last
Month, Wilson’s family announced a $10 million lawsuit against the police
department.

To
date, very little details about the two investigations have been made public.

Earlier this summer, former Arab American police officers at the department told The AANews that they quit the force because they felt intimated and bullied by their colleagues.

Despite the conflicting morale at the department, new Arab American officers have been hired in recent months.