Eastpointe public works director arrested for interfering in investigation

Greg Brown on paid leave amid accounting probe involving scrapping of old equipment

EASTPOINTE, Mich. – Eastpointe Public Works Director Greg Brown is on paid leave and charged with interfering and obstructing a police investigation into the accounting of his department.

City Manager Steve Duchane said Brown was arrested when he refused to open the books.

"They took him from his place of office and took him into custody because we wanted city records that he was not providing to us," Duchane said.

Duchane says the investigation started in October, when he first came on the job and heard about loose accounting over the scrapping of old equipment that can bring thousands of dollars to the department. 

"Everything from what you've seen in the area from scrap metal being sold, these are just concerns that were raised or rumors or stories or just a question to be looked into. I wanted to make sure we had none of those, since the rest of the place runs so well. It would have been a real exception," Duchane said.

Brown has been DPW Director since 1998.

Eastpointe police say he posted a $500 bond and was released.

Duchane said forensic auditors will now be brought in to go over the books.  If money is missing, more serious felony charges could be the result.

Local 4 reported last week how the former public works director in Center Line, who is now working in Florida was charged with embezzlement over the scrapping of old water meters.Â