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Southgate police office charged with raping dancer

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SOUTHGATE — A former city police officer was arraigned Wednesday on charges of sexual assaulting a women he had helped just hours before.

The charges against Emmanuel Paravas stem from an alleged incident Feb. 9 at the Holiday Inn Southgate Banquet & Conference Center.

Paravas, 42, was arraigned before 27th District Judge Randy Kalmbach in Wyandotte. A personal bond was set at $100,000, which Paravas did not have to post.

Judge James Kandrevas of 28th District Court in Southgate recused himself to avoid any potential conflict stemming from their professional relationship.

A preliminary examination of the evidence against Paravas is set for 11 a.m. June 30 at 27th District Court.

Police said Paravas and other officers responded to La Quinta Inn, 12888 Reeck Road, at about 1 a.m. on a domestic violence call involving a Pennsylvania woman, 41, and her husband.

Police said the woman was a dancer, who was scheduled to appear at Subi's Place, a strip club at 12916 North Line Road. It is not clear if she did. Calls to the business were not returned.

According to the woman's website, she tours as an entertainer and has won awards.

The News-Herald Newspapers does not name victims or alleged victims of sexual assault.

Police said the woman made the domestic violence call and that she and her husband were in the hotel lobby when officers arrived.

Prosecutors said Paravas checked the woman into the nearby Holiday Inn, 17201 North Line Road, for her safety and left her there alone.

Police said the dispute was verbal and no charges were filed against the woman or her husband.

Prosecutors said Paravas returned to the hotel at about 3 a.m. and allegedly sexually assaulted the woman in her room.

Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Daniel Smith said his department took over the case Feb. 10, the day after the complaint.

“We investigated and made contact with that Southgate police officer and (then we) made our case to the Wayne County prosecutor,” he said.

Paravas has been charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct, punishable by up to 15 years in prison; misconduct in office, up to five years in prison; and neglect of duty, up to a one-year sentence.

“A felony complaint is not evidence of anything — it's just an allegation,” defense attorney Michael Rataj said. “Anybody can make an allegation; proving those allegations is a separate matter.”

During the arraignment, Paravas said he owns six guns, including a 9 mm Glock, a 9 mm Smith & Wesson, a subcompact 9mm Glock, a hunting shotgun, a .22-caliber rifle and an assault rifle. Because of the charges, Kalmbach ordered Paravas to keep his guns under lock in his New Boston residence.

Kalmbach also ordered Paravas not to have any contact with the alleged victim or her family.

Paravas resigned from the Police Department on March 10 after a Garrity hearing held by the city March 8.

After the hearing, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office began reviewing the warrant request against him. Under Garrity, an officer can be questioned about specific events, but the answers cannot be used in a criminal proceeding.

Rataj entered a plea of not guilty for Paravas. He would not comment on why Paravas quit the force.

Paravas had worked as an officer in Southgate since 2000. He was a police officer in River Rouge before being hired in Southgate.

http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/20…