Teen Who Made Noose In Grosse Pointe Bathroom Will Not Face Charges

GROSSE POINTE, MI — A teen who police said made a noose out of paper towels and left it inside the men's bathroom at a restaurant in downtown Grosse Pointe will not face charges, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors said a group of four freshman boys from Grosse Pointe South went into the bathroom at the Panera Bread on 17150 Kercheval Avenue on Dec. 30 and began vaping.

A 15-year-old boy from within the group then made a noose from paper towel and hung it from a stall in the men's restroom, police said. The noose is a symbol of racism and hate, and represents the lynching of African Americans.

The student was facing possible hate crime charges in the incident, but prosecutors said they weren’t going forward with the charges because there wasn't enough evidence to charge the boy with a crime.

Although a Black employee found the noose hanging inside the bathroom, prosecutors found there was no evidence with intent to threaten or intimidate any specific people, officials said.

The crime of Ethnic Intimidation requires specific intent to intimidate or harass a person/persons based upon race, color, religion, gender or national origin, according to Michigan Law.

"Although this decision may upset some, we must follow the current laws on our books when making a charging decision," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said. "In this case, we thoroughly evaluated the police investigation and looked at every applicable law. This office strives to charge only cases that can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. That is the criminal, legal standard and that simply cannot be met here."

Although Grosse Pointe is a majority white city, the Panera staff at the restaurant on Kercheval Avenue is not.

"This is a hate crime that is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our community," Grosse Pointe Mayor Sheila Tomkowiak said in a January statement. "The noose, which is a symbol of human oppression and violence, has no place here. Any attempts at racial intimidation will be dealt with to the full extent of the law."