Detroit police car from Paint.jpg

The state Supreme Court Wednesday ruled that lies told by police officers can't be used against them -- in certain situations.

A case that rose to the state's highest court involves officer Nevin Hughes, a Detroit Police Gang Squad member accused of choking a man outside a Detroit gas station in 2009.

The victim filed a complaint prompting an Internal Affairs investigation conducted by the Detroit Office of the Chief Inspector.

Officers are required to submit to interviews with the Office of the Chief Inspector -- if they don't, they may be fired -- but those interviews under state law cannot be used as evidence against them in criminal proceedings.

Hughes and two witnessing officers, Sean Harris and William Little, denied the assault claims. Soon after, gas station surveillance video emerged, indicating all three of the officers lied.

Based on the video evidence exposing the apparent lies, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged the three officers with obstruction of justice.

Wayne District Judge Katherine L. Hansen "determined the defendants' statements during the investigation could not be used against them," a summary of the Supreme Court ruling says.

"Because the obstruction-of-justice charges could not be sustained without the defendants' statements, the court dismissed those charges."

Worthy appealed.

Under the law, "any information provided by a law enforcement officer, if compelled under threat of any employment sanctions by the officer's employer, cannot be used against the officer in subsequent criminal proceedings," the Supreme Court ruled.

"The act does not distinguish between true and false statements.

"Therefore, even if false, the officer's statements cannot be used against the officer in a subsequent prosecution."

According to online Wayne County Circuit Court records, charges still stand against Hughes for common-law misconduct and assault and battery.

A 2013 trial was adjourned at the prosecutor's request. It's not clear if Worthy's office plans to now follow through with a trial. Her office could also appeal the decision to the federal court system.

Previous reports indicate Hughes was sued at least eight times in lawsuits that cost taxpayers approximately $677,000 by 2011.

MLive couldn't immediately confirm the employment status of the three officers named in the Supreme Court case.