Charges against former ASU Police Department chief over Israel-Hamas protests dismissed

TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) — The Pinal County District Attorney’s Office has decided not to file charges against former ASU police Chief Michael Thompson for his actions during the investigation. Israel-Hamas protests at Arizona State University Tempe Campus In April.

The Scottsdale Police Department released its 285-page report on Michael Thompson on Friday.

The attorney’s office said it dismissed the charges because “the likelihood of conviction is not reasonable.”

The investigation began after Lt. Larry Fuchtman of the ASU Police Department filed a complaint saying Thompson committed criminal damage and assault during protests.

He was caught on camera slashing through protesters’ tents with a knife and pushing one to the ground.

Thompson was placed on leave He resigned at the beginning of May and remained in office effective August 24.

Fuchtman said in his complaint that Thompson sent an email about protests on other campuses and said, “We will not let this happen here (at ASU).”

72 people were arrested for trespassing during the Israel-Hamas war protest.

Scottsdale detectives said, “There is NO WAY we will allow tents on any of the campuses!” They received the original email that said! Please be aware of such activities and address them immediately by trespassing and making arrests as necessary if they refuse to comply.”

When detectives asked Thompson how he would react to the protest scene, Thompson said he initially did not intend to go to the lawn.

Documents state that Thompson felt he had to go to the Emergency Operations Center to monitor the cameras and notify the school administration of the situation.

But Thompson said while he was driving he received reports that officers needed support from any nearby agencies, so he went to help them.

Thompson told detectives that the protesters all surrounded a tent in the center of the camp.

That’s when he started removing the tents, he said.

Because the piles were driven into the ground, Thompson said he had to cut the cables attached to the piles with his pocket knife.

Documents show Thompson did this to about two to three tents and then told support workers to remove the tents from the lawn. Thompson said people approached him and said the tents were not allowed to be moved because they were public property.

Thompson responded by saying it was a reservable space, not public property. He added that setting up a tent without special permission is against university policy.

In an investigative report filed by Scottsdale police, Thompson said he tried to lift the tent at one point, but it was too heavy and he didn’t know what was inside.

He told detectives he was worried about the possibility of a gun inside and didn’t feel safe, so he cut a hole in the top to see inside the tent.

Thompson said at the time people were recording him and telling him he was cutting tents.

She told detectives she “knocked” the phone out of a man’s hand because he held it directly to his face.

Thompson said he wasn’t aiming for the phone; He just hit the man’s hand and the phone flew into the air.

The report says Thompson told the man to stay away and that was “the end of it.”

Thompson told police he said things he regretted, but it was in the heat of the moment.

He then told detectives: “I’m done dealing with this nonsense. So 36 years is enough.”

Scottsdale police spoke with a protester who was arrested.

Documents show that in his interview, Thompson thought he was a counter-protester. She described seeing him stabbing people’s belongings and being pushed to the ground.

The woman said, “The man in the yellow shirt did it.”

The Scottsdale Police Department agreed with the PCAO that Thomspon would not be charged.

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