Jury finds former Westland police sergeant guilty of ethnic intimidation and assault

LANSING. A former Westland police sergeant was found guilty Friday of making ethnic intimidation and assaulting a security guard while visiting a Detroit casino last year.

Kevin Yudt, 43, of Grass Lake Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 6 on two counts of ethical harassment, each a two-year felony, and one count of assault and battery, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a release.

A Wayne County jury found Yudt guilty of the charges Friday, court records show.

The Westland Police Department fired Yudt in May 2023, a month after Yudt confronted security at the MGM Grand Detroit. Charges were brought against him earlier this year.

“No one is above the law, and I applaud the jurors for their service and dedication to justice,” Nessel said. “This type of behavior has no place in our society, especially for those sworn to protect and serve. My office remains dedicated to prosecuting threats of violence and ethnic intimidation to bring those responsible to justice.”

Prosecutors said that on April 6, 2023, MGM Grand Detroit security did not allow Judt and his friend to visit the casino floor because he was intoxicated.

When he was denied access, Judt identified himself as a Westland police sergeant and told security officers, “I’m waiting for you when you get to Westland, and you’re not going to survive.”

He also poked a security guard in the chest and yelled racist abuse.

Contact editor Susan Vela at [email protected] or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.