East Lansing’s police chief, city prosecutors and a communications team worked together to write a press release about two young Black men’s criminal charges that has since become the subject of a civil lawsuit filed in federal court.
The press release has raised questions in the city about if police intentionally withheld security footage that painted a different picture than other evidence released, and if including names in the press release violated police policy.
Emails obtained by East Lansing Info through Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, requests show that Brown quarterbacked the release that named Lonnie Smith, 21, and Mason Woods, 22, saying they were charged with misdemeanors related to fighting during Michigan State University’s welcome weekend in August…