Search warrant executed at Macomb County Prosecutor's Office

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (FOX 2) - The Michigan State Police said officers are serving a search warrant at the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office.

MSP officials confirmed they were serving the warrant Tuesday morning at 1 South Main Street in Mt. Clemens for an investigation - but would not provide more details about the search.

Eric Smith is the Macomb County Prosecutor and in February, executive Mark Hackel accused him of questionable spending of forfeiture funds related.

Smith released thist statement, confirming it's related to Hackel's request:

"This is all part of the investigation initially requested by Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel," Smith said.

Hackel had asked for a forensic audit into how Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith has been using money from a forfeiture fund, also wanting the attorney general to launch a criminal investigation.

The forfeiture fund is essentially money coming from drunk drivers and drug forfeitures -- public money.

In response, Smith asked for Hackel's office to be audited as well and maintained he had done nothing wrong.

MSP did not confirm if this search was related to Hackel's accusations.

"We see checks being written for his high school yearbook," said Macomb County Commissioner Leon Drolet. "I've seen the records. I've seen the records relating to the checks that he wrote over the last few years, and that's why the county board of commissioners then ordered forensic audit and ultimately why the state police 

UPDATE: Eric Smith held a press conference at 3 p.m. regarding the search.

"My approach from the beginning to these questions raised about the forfeiture program has been fully transparent and cooperative in every way possible," he said. 

Smith says they handed over whatever police wanted.

"I recognize that this doesn't look great, but I can tell you this: after six months of hearing all these falsehoods in the press about what we've used this money for, I'm so happy to have impartial investigators in our office, looking through our documents. We gave them a bankers box full of receipts, full of documents, full of explanations on how this money was spent," he said.

Watch Smith's press conference below on FOX 2 News Now: