In February 2025, the Michigan Supreme Court granted Barry County resident Dean Myers a new trial.
After the announcement, clutch conducted a deep dive on the case, finding Michigan State Police Detective Sergeant Ryan Meier had made false statements during a polygraph interrogation.
I have since found that Dean Myers may have been the first known case like this out of MSP PawPaw, but he wasn’t the last.
I’ve begun digging into multiple allegations that Ryan Meier as well as others, who have conducted hundreds of polygraph exams on behalf of the Michigan State Police, has a documented pattern of coercive tactics, deception, and failure to disclose polygraph results as required by Michigan law.
The Dean Myers Case: A Red Flag Ignored
According to court documents, Meier intentionally misled Myers by stating the polygraph results indicated deception, when in fact the polygraph chart showed no conclusive results.
Worse, Meier continued questioning after implying that Myers had failed the test, an interrogation tactic that courts have repeatedly warned can violate due process and Fifth Amendment protections.
Meier’s conduct raises significant concerns about the integrity of investigations, but no disciplinary action has taken place. Meier remains in his role, still conducting polygraph exams, still testifying in court.
The Law: What MSP Should Have Disclosed
Under MCL 776.21, when a polygraph is administered by law enforcement, the results, whether inconclusive, passed, or failed, must be disclosed to the defense.
Failure to do so can constitute a Brady violation or a due process violation under Brady v. Maryland, which requires the disclosure of exculpatory evidence.
Clutch has confirmed over multiple cases that polygraph records from MSP Paw Paw exams were not turned over until late in the discovery process or not at all.
Some only surfaced after appeal.
One attorney told us, “It’s not just what’s being said during the polygraph—it’s what’s being omitted. And that omission can change someone’s entire life.”
Not Just One Case: Clutch Justice Investigates
I’m currently tracking a brand new case out of Cass county where:
- Ryan Moro allegedly claimed the defendant “failed” the polygraph before the test was even scored.
- Statements made during post-polygraph interrogations were used in court, despite the polygraph itself being inconclusive, missing entirely from the file and never submitted into evidence.
- Moro falsely claimed their attorney could not be present.
- The examination chair is broken and wiggly, meaning defendants cannot sit still as required for accurate results.
- St. Joseph Prosecutor Deborah Davis was also on the case, begging the question whether she engaged in dishonest behavior or hid records.
The Bigger Problem: Polygraphs Are Not Lie Detectors
Polygraphs are not scientifically reliable enough to be admissible as proof of guilt in most courts.
Yet in Michigan, they are still routinely used to pressure suspects, extract confessions, and guide prosecutorial decisions. The misuse of polygraphs, especially by law enforcement officers who twist or suppress results, often leads to wrongful convictions or delayed justice.
The issue isn’t just Meier or Moro.
The issue is a system that allows law enforcement officers to weaponize junk science, bypass proper disclosure, and remain unaccountable even after a state supreme court rebuke.
What Comes Next
Clutch is continuing to investigate MSP’s polygraph practices across Michigan.
If you or someone you know has undergone a polygraph with Meier or if discovery materials were delayed, manipulated, or never provided, we want to hear from you.
📩 Submit tips confidentially: Clutchjustice.com/submit-a-story
A deep-dive exposé and interactive timeline will follow as we review transcripts, complaint records, and defense filings.
