No charges will be filed against Chief Wilson

Published 3:35 pm Monday, March 16, 2009

No charges will be filed against Austin Fire Chief Dan Wilson, according to a statement released Monday by the law offices of Goldman, Sturtz & Halvorsen of Albert Lea.

The consideration of charges stem from a complaint filed by local business owner Carla McCarthy regarding an alleged confrontation between McCarthy and Chief Wilson at a Feb. 12 fire committee meeting.

Robert D. Sturtz, an attorney with Goldman, Sturtz & Halvorsen, reviewed the matter on behalf of the City of Austin.

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“Sturtz has recommended that there be no charges brought against Mr. Wilson stemming from the Feb. 12, 2009 incident. The standard of proof in a criminal matter is guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The standard cannot, in this case, in the opinion of Sturtz, be proven, based on the information at this time,” the release stated.

Austin Police Chief Paul Philipp said Monday that he considers the case now closed.

“For all practical purposes, the matter is closed for us,” Chief Philipp said.

Watch for more on this story in the Tuesday edition of the Austin Daily Herald and on www.austindailyherald.com.