Former deputy Detroit police chief accused of lying to feds

A former civilian deputy Detroit Police Chief who was caught on a wire tap in the federal investigation into public corruption in Macomb County is still proclaiming her innocence, but new court records could spell more problems.

Celia Washington insists she's innocent, despite cutting a deal with the government to cooperate in the federal investigation into public corruption. But a new court filing says she wants to suppress statements she made related to that deal and she's also asking a judge to suppress evidence obtained by wire tap.

Washington was working as legal adviser to the Detroit Police Department when she resigned suddenly last summer. At the time, she said she would have plenty to say about her situation.

Before that happened, the feds indicted her on bribery charges.

Washington is suspected of taking $3,000 from longtime Metro Detroit towing mogul Gasper Fiore to help him hold onto lucrative towing contracts with the Detroit Police Department.

Washington and Fiore are among 18 people charged with being part of a wide-ranging web of bribery centered in Macomb County. A federal investigation uncovered multiple cases of contractors paying elected officials to help them get contracts.

Chuck Rizzo of Rizzo Environmental Services was involved in many of those dirty deals and began secretly working for the feds in early 2016. 

Fiore cut a deal this month to plead guilty to a single count of bribing a Clinton Township official. It is not known whether he is cooperating with the feds.

Washington's potential deal to cooperate with the government fell apart after she failed a lie detector examination, according to a report in the Detroit News. The News says Washington told the FBI she asked Fiore for an $800 loan, but later learned the envelope he stuffed with cash for her contained $3,000.

Washington did not return a message seeking comment for this story. Her attorney would not discuss the case.