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Meridian Township apologizes for Nassar inaction

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Meridian township apologized to an alleged victim of Larry Nassar Thursday. The department says they mishandled a complaint brought against the former sports doctor in 2004.

 

Last week, Doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced for sexually assaulting patients. Brianne Randall-Gay told Meridian Township police in 2004 about an appointment she had with Nassar where he touched her genitals. But they believed Nassar when he said it was medical treatment.

Randall-Gay says working with the township has been healing for her.

“I was sitting at home with my newborn when I got the call. I immediately broke down as they apologized. This was a phone call I had been waiting almost 14 years for.”

David Hall is the chief of police for Meridian Township. He says he hopes the new initiatives will help Randall-Gay heal.

“You’ll never think that you’ve done enough to help her out. And I know that she’s extended us grace and we appreciate that, but you wonder what will be enough.”

Frank Walsh is the township manager.

“He duped us. We were deceived by it and we should have done a lot more. We’d be better off today if we had.”

The township says it’s working with Randall-Gay on several new initiatives and training to improve its response to criminal sexual conduct complaints.