Franck Louis-Victor, an executive who joined Ford Motor Co. in 2021 from Renault, was arrested on Saturday at his home in Oakland County after a domestic dispute involving a weapon and expensive purses.
Louis-Victor, 50, CEO of Ford Next LLC and vice president of new business platforms at Ford Motor Co., is accused of trying to set fire to two purses during a domestic incident. WDIV-TV (Channel 4) reported the bags were valued at $10,000 each. He was arrested and charged with two felonies: assault with a dangerous weapon and arson, based on preparation to burn property worth between $1,000 and $20,000.
The arson charge stems from Louis-Victor allegedly trying to set fire to two Hermes handbags, according to court records obtained by the Detroit Free Press. The assault with a dangerous weapon charge relates to an incident with a woman (whose name matches the co-owner of the home, according to property records) involving “a butane torch and/or a computer tablet, but without intending to commit the crime of murder,” court records say.
A judge ordered Louis-Victor to surrender his passport to the Bloomfield Township Police Department and not return to his home on the quiet cul-de-sac in the 100 block of Vorn Lane in Bloomfield Hills. The Free Press in general does not use the names of alleged domestic violence victims without their permission.
At his arraignment in 48th District Court in Bloomfield Hills, a plea of not guilty was entered by the court. A judge set bond at $25,000 cash
A probable cause conference is scheduled for July 18, and a preliminary examination is scheduled for July 25. The court order, reviewed by the Free Press, indicates Louis-Victor cannot leave Michigan and cannot possess firearms.
If convicted, Louis-Victor could face up to five years for the arson charge and/or $10,000 or three times the value of property intended to be burned, whichever is greater; and up to four years and/or $2,000 in fines on the assault charge.
More:UAW prepares to begin contract talks with Detroit 3
More:Ford sales climb 11% in 2nd quarter, driven by gas-powered trucks, hybrids
Amy Mast, Ford Next spokeswoman, told the Free Press on Tuesday, “We are aware of what has been reported in the press, but it would be inappropriate to comment on personal matters.”
Neith Louis-Victor nor his attorney could be reached for comment.
The incident was first reported by WDIV-TV (Channel 4).
At Ford, Louis-Victor is responsible for creating and launching business projects that create value for Ford, especially “new, technology-forward customer experiences in various domains such as energy, supply chain, iOT, and distribution,” according to his business profile on the Ford website.
More:Behind the scenes, families who have devoted their lives to Ford quietly honor a milestone
More:Stolen Ford F-150s sold with clean titles in million-dollar ploy from Michigan to Arizona
More:Ford’s new supply chain chief worked at Whirlpool, General Motors; 4 top execs leave
Free Press staff writer Susan Tompor contributed to this report.
Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid.