ACLU files brief requesting charges be dismissed against homeless man

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan filed a friend of the court brief today, urging Ann Arbor's 15th District Court to dismiss charges against a homeless man arrested while living on public property.

The brief requests the court dismiss a trespassing charge against Caleb Poirier, the leader of the homeless tent community, "Camp Take Notice," a press release said.

Caleb Poirier was arrested at Camp Take Notice in early September.

Michigan State Police troopers arrested Poirier in early September at the Ann Arbor-Saline park-and-ride lot, where the tent community had been set up. He was charged with trespassing.

The ACLU argues punishing "harmless life-sustaining conduct," such as sleeping in public, constitutes "cruel and/or unusual punishment" under the U.S. and Michigan constitutions, the release said.

It's unclear whether the brief will have any effect on the case.

Washtenaw County Chief Deputy Assistant Prosecutor Steve Hiller could not immediately be reached for comment this afternoon.

Poirier is next scheduled to appear in court for an evidentiary hearing on the charge Jan. 5, court records show.