Detroit police officer Kairy Roberts was caught on video punching a man in the face in Greektown
By: Among Detroit police officers, it was known as “the punch heard 'round the world.”
In August 2021, Detroit police officer Kairy Roberts was caught on video punching a man in the face in Greektown—even though he appeared to pose no threat—and briefly knocking him unconscious.
Within hours of the punch, the video made headlines nationwide, and Detroit Police Chief James White announced that Roberts would be suspended. An internal investigation quickly followed.
“I have some serious concerns as to how that was handled,” White said at the time. “We’ve come to expect our officers to de-escalate situations. I did not see de-escalation there. I did not see our training there.”
By July of the following year, DPD concluded that Roberts had punched the man, 34-year-old Marcus Alston, without justification.
The investigation also found that he failed to render aid after Alston was briefly knocked unconscious, and that he was not truthful with investigators.
Roberts was hit with a slew of internal charges, and Detroit police officials say the presumptive penalty was termination.
But Roberts didn't give his bosses a chance to take action against him. He resigned in September and, days later, accepted a new badge just down the road.