Physical assault suspect identified, released after police interview


Editor’s note: This story was updated at 4:25 p.m. on July 28

With assistance from the community, police officers identified the man who reportedly assaulted a woman on July 23 near Mill and Walnut streets.

A detective interviewed the suspect and released him after consulting with the Isabella County Prosecutor’s Office, according to a press release issued Monday.

The man is accused of “carrying out unwanted sexual contact” and physically assaulting the woman. The case is still under investigation.

According to a press release issued a day after the incident, the female victim said the suspect approached her from behind and forced her into a grassy area. The suspect then threw her to the ground and engaged in the unwanted contact and assault.

Officer Jeff Browne, Mount Pleasant police’s public information officer, said he could not release whether the suspect and victim knew each other. Browne said he believes the suspect isn’t a serial assaulter.

“Our biggest concern is the safety of the public,” he said. “We felt there was no risk to the public.”

Browne added that any charges pressed against the suspect will be up to the Isabella County Prosecutor.

“It might be a day or it may be a month,” he said. “The prosecuting attorney gets a copy of the report and decides. They got a copy today.”

Check back with cm-life.com for more on this story.

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