TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) — The Pinal County Attorney’s Office has decided not to file charges against former ASU Police Chief Michael Thompson for his actions during Israel-Hamas protest at Arizona State University Tempe Campus in April.

The Scottsdale Police Department released its 285-page report in Michael Thompson on Friday.

The DA’s office said it declined to prosecute because there was “no reasonable likelihood of conviction.”

The investigation began after Lt. Larry Fuchtman with ASU PD filed a complaint saying Thompson committed criminal damage and assault during the protests.

He was caught on camera cutting open protesters’ tents with a knife and pushing someone to the ground.

Thompson was placed on leave in early May and then resigned effective August 24.

In his complaint, Fuchtman said Thompson sent an email about protests at other campuses, saying, “We will not let this happen here (at ASU).”

72 people were arrested for trespassing during the Israel-Hamas war protest.

Scottsdale detectives obtained the original email, which said, “In NO WAY will we allow tents to be set up on any of the campuses! Please keep a sharp eye out for these types of activities and address them immediately by cracking down on them if they refuse to comply and make arrests if necessary.”

When detectives asked Thompson about responding to the protest scene, he said he had no intention of going to the lawn in the first place.

Documents state Thompson felt he should go to the Emergency Operations Center to monitor cameras and update school administration on the situation.

But as he drove, Thompson said he received reports that the officers needed backup from some nearby agency, so he went to help them.

Thompson told detectives that the protesters all surrounded a tent in the center of the camp.

That’s when he said he started taking down tents.

Because they were impaired, Thompson said he had to cut the wires connected to the poles with his pocket knife.

Documents show Thompson did this to about two to three tents and then told supporting officers to move the tents off the lawn. Thompson said people approached him and told him he couldn’t move the tents because they were on public property.

Thompson responded by saying it was not public property but a reservable space. He added that it is against university policy to set up tents without special permission.

In the Scottsdale police investigative report, Thompson said he tried to lift a tent at one point, but it was very heavy and he didn’t know what was inside.

He told detectives he was worried and felt unsure that any weapons were inside, so he cut a hole in the top to look inside the tent.

Thompson said that’s when people recorded him saying he was cutting tents.

He told detectives he “swatted” the phone out of a man’s hand because he put it right in his face.

Thompson said he didn’t aim for the phone; he just slapped the man’s hand and the phone flew.

The report says Thompson told the man to stay away, which was “the end of it.”

Thompson told police he said things he regrets but that it was in the heat of the moment.

After that, he told detectives: “I’m done with this shit. So, 36 years is enough.”

Scottsdale police spoke with a protester who was arrested.

Documents show that in her interview she thought Thompson was a counter-protester. She described seeing him stabbing people’s belongings and being pushed to the ground.

The woman also said, “the guy in the yellow shirt” did it.

The Scottsdale Police Department agreed with the PCAO that Thomspon would not be charged.

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