Politics

Exclusive: Ralph Godbee's Latest Scandal -- Ex-Lover Accused Him of Stealing Her Gun

September 19, 2013, 3:33 PM by  Allan Lengel


Merica Patterson of Waterford Township. (Facebook photo)

Ralph Godbee, who was ousted last year as Detroit police chief following a sex scandal, can’t seem to stay away from trouble -- particularly when it comes to romance.

The latest: Merica Patterson of Waterford Township filed a police report Aug. 28 alleging that Godbee had gone in her house and stolen her 9 mm gun and iPad out of spite after they had broken up about two weeks before.

The Waterford Township Police Department said Thursday that the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office decided to decline charges against Godbee, who offered to return the items after the incident, according to a police report obtained by Deadline Detroit under a Freedom of Information Act request. Police have the items and are expected to return them now that the case has been closed.

According to the police report, Merica told police she purchased the gun for her protection, adding that Godbee often gave her money and “she did buy these items with that money." She said he also bought her expensive jewelry and other items, but none of that is missing.”

Godbee told police that he had purchased the gun. Attempts to reach Godbee by cell phone and Patterson by phone and Facebook in recent weeks were unsuccessful.

The latest mess comes in wake of Godbee’s scandal with the department. He was dating Internal Affairs Officer Angelica Robinson, who outed her relationship with Godbee on Twitter.

Last October, Fox2 reported that at least four high ranking police officials were engaged with tracking down Robinson on a Saturday night after she became distraught, put a pistol in her mouth and posted it on Twitter after she found out Godbee was traveling with another woman.  

Fox2 reported that some women in the department claimed they had sex with Godbee and got promoted.

According to the Waterford Township  police report, on Aug. 28, Merica Patterson reported that the night before Godbee entered her home, knowing she wouldn't be there.

"Merica reports that she had been dating Godbee for a year and a half, and they broke  up two week ago," the report said. " She reports the break-up was cordial, and doesn't understand why he would do this."

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Ralph Godbee

The police report says that Merica was out with a girlfriend and "because she had been drinking, stayed the night at friends. She reports that Godbee had been texting her the course of the night trying to figure out where she was and who she was with. She reports she did not tell him because he is her ex and she felt it was none of her business."

Patteson, who says she works in the fields of advertising, photography and nonprofits, said she then got a text late at night saying Godbee was at her home. She then got alerts from ADT alarm company saying her garage door was opened. The garage door is opened by code. She told police that Godbee had been over her house regularly during the relationship, but never had permission to freely enter when she was or wasn't there.

In the morning, after being out, she discovered the gun and iPad were missing.

The report stated: "Merica reports that she does want to report the theft, but is unsure if she wants to prosecute due to Godbee's public figure status. She said she would consider not prosecuting if she gets back the items."

Subsequently, the report said that Godbee texted and offered to drop off the gun. She didn't want him coming over. She also rejected an offer that he drop it off at her mother's house.

Godbee eventually showed up at the police department front desk Aug. 30 at 2:30 p.m.,  the report said.

It indicated that he brought the gun to he station.

"Godbee said that he took the gun from Patterson's house so that he wouldn't get shot with it," the report said.

The gun and the iPad were logged at the police station and taken by the investigating officers.

After, the report says Godbee asked police if he was under arrest, and police said no.

Police then escorted him out to the lobby and he left the department, the report said.

And so goes another dramatic chapter in the life of Ralph Godbee.



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