A woman arrested by Ann Arbor police during a Punk Week gathering at Bandemer Park in August was sentenced Wednesday to time already served in jail after pleading no contest to disturbing the peace, said her attorney, Michele Kelly.
Melissa Lyon, 20, of St. Louis, Mo., entered the plea in 14A District Court to the misdemeanor charge under a sentencing agreement that called for a felony charge of resisting and obstructing police officers to be dismissed.
It brings an end to the criminal case against Lyon and seven others who were arrested Aug. 15 after police say they refused to leave the Lake Shore Drive park.
All were charged with resisting and obstructing officers and disturbing the peace. The other seven were sentenced last week to time already served in jail after pleading no contest to disturbing the peace.
Witnesses say the arrests came after a heated exchange between officers and people barbecuing chicken in the park who traveled to Ann Arbor from around the country for Punk Week.
Officers responded to a report that people were smoking marijuana, lounging naked and having sex at the park. Witnesses allege officers used racial and homophobic slurs and were overly rough with people taken into custody. In addition to the arrests, two other people were issued citations because they were naked, a police report says.
The police department continues to conduct an internal investigation into how officers responded to the incident, police spokeswoman Lt. Angella Abrams said.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
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