No charges to be filed against naked man.
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By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.
HART — Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon issued a statement Friday, March 3, that the 18-year-old man, who is an adult foster care resident, will not be criminally charged in connection to the incident last week that involved him allegedly running the streets of Hart while naked.
“I have reviewed the complaint submitted by Chief (Juan) Salazar,” said Bizon. “At no time did Chief Salazar request that I charge this person with a crime. Chief Salazar did stay in contact with me in the days following the incident to ensure a proper review of the matter and attempt to reach a positive outcome.
“I am declining to issue criminal charges against this man, (and) Chief Salazar concurred in that decision.
“We (the prosecutor and police) deal often with issues related to the adult foster homes. This presents unique challenges due the wide range of capacities and issues faced by those who reside in adult foster care. Some are more capable than others. The police need to respond when residents are disruptive or even assaultive toward staff members.
“We have to attempt to keep the community safe, ensure property rights, protect the staff of the adult home and at the same time, ensure the rights and safety of the adult residents within the constructs of the legal system and basic fairness.
“In this case, it appears the incident revolves around proper medication. No damage was identified, and no individuals were harmed. This mater was able to be resolved with return of the individual to the home and addressing the individual’s needs after being improperly dressed in those weather conditions.
“We are all grateful that this incident ended so benignly, but that is not always the case, and that is why Chief Salazar appropriately sends these incidents to the prosecutor for review.”
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