Former Bay City police chief to make court appearance Wednesday
By: Robyn Meylan
Student Submission
BAY CITY – Michael Cecchini, former director of the Bay City Department of Public Safety, will appear in Bay County District Court Wednesday, Feb. 14 for misdemeanor assault and battery charges.
Michael Cecchini, 56, is accused of misdemeanor assault and battery against then 18-year-old Travis Kram. These charges come as a result of an altercation that took place Sept. 17, 2022 in which Kram and two friends had been riding electric scooters outside an Uptown Bay City complex, where Cecchini resided.
The incident began when Cecchini deemed the three individuals had been making “excessive noise” and began exchanging words from his balcony. The altercation escalated when Cecchini exited his residence and confronted the three teens. Cellphone video from one of the teens involved captured the majority of the altercation that followed. The video begins with Cecchini approaching Kram and threatening to beat his “a**” and take him to jail, before using the butt of his flashlight to jab Kram in the abdominal/chest area. Verbal altercation between the two continued until police, summoned by Cecchini, arrived.
Following the controversy from the incident, Cecchini was placed on administrative leave Sept. 18, before announcing his retirement on Oct. 2. Cecchini had held the position for 16 years and was the city’s first public safety director, following the merger of the police and fire department.
Cecchini was then charged by Michigan’s Attorney General office with misdemeanor and assault for the aforementioned jab.
A federal lawsuit was also filed by Kram claiming Cecchini had violated the 4th and 14th Amendments; the right of people to be secure in their persons, etc., against unreasonable search and seizures, and fabrication of false evidence, citing post-incident police statements given by Cecchini on the scene.
According to ABC12 the lawsuit was settled with Kram being awarded $90,000 total.
If no settlement is reached the trial will proceed on Wednesday in Bay County District Court. If convicted, the misdemeanor is punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $500 fine.
