Charges Dropped in MSU Welcome Week Case Amid Ongoing Scrutiny of East Lansing Police

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Prosecutors have dropped charges against two men arrested during Michigan State University’s welcome week last August, an incident that sparked controversy and calls for accountability within the East Lansing Police Department.

The Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that charges against 21-year-old Lonnie Smith of Okemos and 22-year-old Mason Woods of East Lansing have been dismissed. The two were initially arrested after a fight broke out just ahead of the start of the fall semester. The East Lansing Police Oversight Commission had previously urged prosecutors to drop the case.

The controversy intensified after Police Chief Jennifer Brown made comments about the incident that many community members and advocacy groups condemned as racist. Brown later issued an apology.

At Tuesday night’s East Lansing City Council meeting, public discussion over the department’s culture continued. One speaker criticized not only the chief but the department as a whole, saying, “A police officer that would pepper spray someone six inches from their eyes or another who would scream ‘Was that so effing hard?’ while denying a man treatment already knows they will not be held accountable — and that Black bodies are fair game.”

However, another resident offered a contrasting view, suggesting that the department’s difficult work is often overlooked. “Perhaps the chief of police might not owe an apology,” the resident said, “and that the police might instead be owed an apology for doing a very difficult job while being harried at every turn.”

Other Michigan Headlines

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• Power Restored in Delhi Township: More than 1,200 Consumers Energy customers regained power Monday evening after an equipment issue caused an afternoon outage.

• Hunting and Fishing Fee Increases: The Michigan Senate on Tuesday approved a measure raising over 20 hunting and fishing license fees, expected to generate $20 million in new revenue. Supporters say the move will stabilize funding for the Department of Natural Resources, while critics have called the hikes “shameful.”

• Michiganders More Optimistic: A new statewide survey by the Glengariff Group for the Detroit Regional Chamber shows 51% of residents believe Michigan is on the right track, compared to 34% who think otherwise. However, only 42% say the economy is moving in the right direction.

• Universities Combat Teacher Shortage: Central Michigan University is leading the MICareers resource hub, partnering with five major universities—including Michigan State—to address K–12 teacher shortages in rural areas. The program provides no-cost credentialing to educators looking to begin or transition within the profession.