The Grand Traverse Prosecuting Attorney's Office has decided not to press charges against a Traverse City man who left suspicious packages in the vestibule of a local bank, citing mental illness and a lack of harmful intent by the suspect.

Prosecuting Attorney Noelle Moeggenberg issued a statement Wednesday saying she was declining to press charges against the 63-year-old suspect in the case, despite a request from the Traverse City Police Department to charge the man with bomb threats. The man, a Riverview Terrace resident, allegedly left two over-the-counter medicine boxes with foam cell phones on them in the vestibule of Fifth Third Bank in downtown Traverse City on December 30. The suspicious boxes prompted an alert to authorities and the Michigan State Police Bomb Squad to be called in to clear the scene. The package was ultimately determined to not be explosive. 

Moeggenberg said that “the items, while suspicious-looking, contained no explosives and were not a threat to any person or property.” She continued: “The individual who left the items appears to have been suffering from mental health issues and believed that leaving the items would assist police in some way. There was absolutely no intent to harm or threaten anyone.” For those reasons, Moeggenberg said no charges would be authorized in the case.