Jim Schaefer

Detroit Free Press

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy dropped criminal charges today against DeAngelo L. Davis, a Detroit man accused of murdering Wayne State University Police Officer Collin Rose last month.

In a news conference that lasted less than four minutes, Worthy said officers are literally working around the clock to find Rose's killer. Davis, 31, of Detroit is expected to be released today from jail.

"He is no longer a suspect at this time," Worthy said, flanked by Detroit Police Chief James Craig and Wayne State University Chief Anthony Holt.

Worthy answered no questions from reporters at the news conference in her office at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in downtown Detroit.

In a news release, the prosecutor's office said, "As a result of the investigation, DeAngelo Davis has been eliminated as a suspect in the case."

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"After a review of new evidence, prosecutors and the police have determined that DeAngelo Davis is not a suspect in the death" of Rose, the statement reads. "The Homicide Task Force, comprised of the Detroit Police Department and the Michigan State Police, continues to aggressively commit their time and resources to investigate the death. ... For this reason, we are not at liberty to provide further details about the dismissed case and the ongoing investigation."

Rose was shot in the head about 6:35 p.m. on Nov. 22 at Lincoln and Brainard streets in Detroit's Woodbridge neighborhood, just west of Wayne State's Midtown campus, authorities said.

The 29-year-old officer died a day later.

Davis was arrested hours after the shooting and was held in jail without bond. Police said at the time that Rose stopped Davis and was trying to take Davis into custody when Rose was shot. Davis had been charged with first-degree murder, murder of a police officer, felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of felony firearm, as well as being a habitual offender.

Originally, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office had said Rose was conducting a traffic investigation of Davis, who was riding a bicycle in the area of Lincoln and Brainard. A news release at the time said Rose called for backup at 6:31 p.m., and while he was attempting to take Davis into custody, Davis shot the officer in the head, then fled on foot.

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Holt has said he wasn't aware of a weapon being recovered. Today's news release said it is still believed that Rose was investigating someone who had been riding a bicycle.

Davis has a history of being combative with police officers, court records show. He was charged in 2011 with two charges of felony assault involving a police officer, one causing injury, and pleaded guilty, resulting in a 53-day jail sentence, the records show. In 2009, he was charged with assault/resisting/obstructing police officers with the Taylor Police Department.

Rose was a canine officer who had was hired by the Wayne State police department in March 2011.

Craig said there is a $15,000 reward for information that helps solve the case. Call 1-888-ATF-TIPS or 1-888-283-8477.

"We are optimisitic," Craig said. "We are going to continue to move forward."

Staff writer Robert Allen contributed to this report. Contact Jim Schaefer: 313-223-4542 or jschaefer@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DetroitReporter.