Prosecutor: No charges planned in psychiatric hospital case

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) - A prosecutor says there's a lack of evidence to authorize criminal charges against Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital employees accused of mistreating patients.

The Kalamazoo Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/1vu9DKm ) the findings are from Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting.

Getting's office reviewed 17 police reports and other materials to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to authorize charges of assault and battery and vulnerable adult abuse.

In October, 28 staff were suspended with pay; in December, the state announced 13 of the employees had returned to work.

The criminal investigation was the latest in a series of issues at the hospital, which has been under scrutiny over safety since the death of a patient last year that was not properly reported to state authorities.

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Information from: Kalamazoo Gazette, http://www.mlive.com/kalamazoo