MARSHALL, MI (WTVB) – The Marshall Police Department announced it will not file criminal charges against a resident accused of making death threats against city council members.
The investigation stemmed from an anonymous tip regarding hostile statements directed at council members over a controversial proposed data center. Chief of Police Josh Lankerd stated that while law enforcement treats all complaints seriously, they found insufficient evidence to meet the legal criteria for a crime.
Police concluded that the individual did not pose an active danger to the community, and the initial informant agreed that the suspect was no longer a threat.
Following the investigation, Chief Lankerd issued a public appeal urging residents to practice civil dialogue during community disputes. The tensions in Marshall, escalated during ongoing debates regarding Alterra Development’s proposed tech facility, which recently resulted in a unanimous council vote for a one-year development moratorium.
Lankerd says that while the First Amendment protects controversial speech, neighbors should refrain from aggressive online and in-person rhetoric.
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