Protesters demonstrated in front of the Chelsea Police Department Friday, confronting Chief Edward Toth after he said the department will not dismiss charges against people who protested in the streets over the summer in a case that has divided the small town and has led to a constitutional court battle.
Toth said Friday that it is not within the Police Department’s authority to drop civil charges after they have been submitted to the court and that it is up to a judge to rule on the charges, which is scheduled to occur Monday. This follows a City Council meeting earlier this week in which the body voted unanimously to recommend that police drop pending charges against protesters for impeding traffic.