Republican state Rep. Neil Friske, 62, was arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting an exotic dancer and then chasing her while brandishing a gun. He was released from police custody late Friday morning, but has not yet been charged or arraigned.
Republican state Rep. Neil Friske of Michigan faces potential felony-level sexual assault and weapons charges following an alleged incident with an exotic dancer. Friske, 62, was released from the Lansing police lockup late Friday morning after being arrested early Thursday morning.
According to police, they responded to reports of possible shots fired around 2:45 a.m. Thursday and learned of a "possible sexual assault of an adult female." The alleged female victim reportedly works or worked at the nearby Deja Vu Showgirls strip club, which is the closest such club to the scene of the incident.
Michigan State Representative Faces Felony Assault and Weapons Charges After Alleged Sexual Assault
Friske was arrested on Windbreak Lane near a condo he owns in Lansing. The Ingham County prosecutor's office has requested that the Lansing police department continue its investigation, and prosecutors are coordinating with law enforcement on the matter.
Friske's attorney, Edward Zeineh, has stated that his office will also conduct a "very thorough investigation" and will provide its findings to the Ingham prosecutors so that officials can "make a very informed decision."
Michigan State Representative Faces Felony Assault and Weapons Charges After Alleged Sexual Assault
Records obtained Friday by the Free Press through the Michigan State Police criminal background service show that the Lansing department requested felony charges of sexual assault, assault, and a weapons-related offense against the lawmaker. However, Friske has not yet been charged or arraigned, and it is unclear whether those are the charges he will face.
In a statement released on Facebook, Friske's campaign called the arrest "highly suspect" and claimed it occurred "right before absentee ballots are released" and "a day after an unknown phone number conducted polling on the 107 race between Rep. Friske and our opponent with deep-state ties."
Michigan State Representative Faces Felony Assault and Weapons Charges After Alleged Sexual Assault
Friske faces a primary election challenge against Parker Fairbairn of Harbor Springs on Aug. 6. Fairbairn has stated that despite Friske's "abysmal and immoral voting record," he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Friske, who is seeking his second term in the Michigan House next fall, is considered one of the more conservative members of the Legislature and is part of the House's Freedom Caucus, which describes itself as "focused on traditional conservative values and individual liberty."
Michigan State Representative Faces Felony Assault and Weapons Charges After Alleged Sexual Assault
After his release from lockup, Friske's campaign wrote in a second Facebook post that they "are confident that he and his legal team will be able to show his innocence against any trumped up charges."
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and no charges have been filed at this time. Friske's arraignment is scheduled for Friday, July 1.
