Detroit Police Officer Charged with Felonies After Allegedly Stealing Explicit Media from Arrestee’s Phone

Officer Derond Crawford is accused of sending explicit media from a woman's phone to himself during an arrest. Read about the felony charges and the victim's account.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 5:34 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from FOX 2 Detroit and the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Unauthorized Access During Traffic Stop

The incident began last week during a traffic stop on Detroit’s east side. Samantha Thomason was pulled over by Officer Derond Crawford and subsequently placed in handcuffs due to an outstanding warrant for a probation violation. While she was detained in the back of the patrol car, Crawford allegedly requested her phone under the pretext of retrieving a contact number. Thomason complied, only to later discover a trail of sent messages originating from her "hidden gallery" while she was being processed at a different facility.

Internal Affairs Investigation and Charges

Upon regaining access to her device, Thomason noticed that 11 to 12 intimate videos and photos had been sent to an unfamiliar number. Detroit Police Internal Affairs quickly traced the recipient's number back to Crawford. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has since charged the officer with multiple felonies. Crawford has been released on a personal bond but remains under house arrest with an electronic tether as the case moves toward trial.

Allegations of Off-Duty Harassment

The case took a more disturbing turn the morning after the initial incident. Thomason reported that Crawford, while off-duty but still in uniform, appeared at her home at 7:30 a.m. claiming to have another warrant for her arrest. Recognizing the situation as highly irregular, Thomason refused to open the door and called 911. This encounter has left the victim "terrified" and fearing further retaliation from the officer or his colleagues.