Ford exec accused of assaulting wife, threatening to burn her $10K purses

Police say the head of a Ford Motor Co. unit threatened to burn his wife's $10,000 purses with a butane torch and assaulted her over the weekend.

Franck Louis-Victor, 50, of Bloomfield Township was charged Monday in court with felonious assault and arson-preparation to burn, officials said.

Louis-Victor is CEO of Ford Next LLC and vice president of Ford's New Businesses Platform, according to the company's website. Ford Next was created in 2022 to accelerate the development of autonomous vehicles and foster new technology businesses. Louis-Victor was tapped to run the unit by Ford CEO Jim Farley.

A judge set Louis-Victor's bond at $25,000 and scheduled his next court appearance for July 18. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison for the assault charge and up to five years for the arson charge.

Bloomfield Township Police Department officers were called Saturday to Louis-Victor's home in the 160 block of Vorn Lane near Maple and Lahser roads for a report of a domestic assault, officials said in a statement Tuesday.

According to a preliminary investigation and a criminal complaint, the victim told officers that she and her husband, Louis-Victor, were in an argument when he threatened to burn two of her Hermes purses, each valued at about $10,000, with a lit butane torch. She told police after she took the purses from him, he turned the torch toward her and said he would harm her if he couldn't damage the handbags, police said.

Later during the fight, he allegedly slapped the woman, headbutted her and struck her with a Google Nest Hub device, cutting her under the left eye. The woman sought treatment at a hospital.

Detectives said they interviewed Louis-Victor and he made statements that supported the victim's account of events. They arrested him and took him to the Oakland County Jail to await charges. He was released at 6:27 p.m. Tuesday, online court documents show. Bond was set at 10% of $25,000.

Amy Mast, a Ford Next spokeswoman, said the company cannot comment on the incident or Louis-Victor's charges.

"We are aware of what has been reported in the press, but it would be inappropriate to comment on personal matters," she said Tuesday in a statement.

Paul Stablein, an attorney who said he represents Louis-Victor's wife, Soo Louis-Victor, issued a statement late Tuesday on her behalf, saying she loves her husband and calling him a "loving partner and father."

"And I’ve never seen him behave aggressively or violently," said the statement. "I am an advocate for women who have suffered from domestic violence having lived around the world, and I in no way want to take anything away from true victims. I will continue to advocate for those who are. During this difficult time, we appreciate the support of our family, our friends and our colleagues, and we regret this situation has become so public."

cramirez@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @CharlesERamirez

Staff Writer Kara Berg contributed.