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DPOA President blasts Wayne County prosecutor after charges denied in threats against officers

Posted at 8:00 PM, Aug 31, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-31 20:00:26-04

The President of the Detroit Police Officers Association has blasted the decision not to bring charges against three individuals who threatened Detroit Police officers in social media posts.

Mark Diaz called the decision by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy "disgusting."

"What we've gotten so far is a prosecutor's office that has done nothing more than attack our police officers as opposed to support them," Diaz told 7 Action News.

On Tuesday, Worthy announced that there was insufficient evidence to charge three individuals who made threats against cops. In a detailed press release, Worthy cited issues with the investigation and a lack of sufficient evidence in making her decision.

"The postings on Facebook are disturbing, especially since they are directed at the police who place their lives on the line each day to protect the public," Worthy said in a statement. "However, in order to have a case we can prosecute, we must be able to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt in court."

Worthy said the investigative work by Detroit Police in these cases was substandard and that Miranda rights violations were among the issues in the cases.

Diaz said that decision was an affront to the men and women who wear the uniform. 

"This is nothing more than smoke and mirrors, it's nothing more than retaliation because we've been pressuring her to do something about this for a long time and yet she sat on it and then wants to come back and say it's our fault that she denied those warrants," Diaz said. "That's absolutely ridiculous and to be honest with you, she's lost all credibility with the law enforcement community, not just here in the city of Detroit but the state of Michigan and nationally as well."

Diaz said discussions have taken place with the Michigan attorney general's office and they could also seek federal charges for the threats.

DPD made another arrest Monday night following the latest threat against an officer. It was posted on a Facebook account that showed a video of a female officer delivering school supplies to a young Detroit resident.