Park Police announced today that they have reinstated FCSW President Gareth Shepherd as a member in good standing of the security force. The move comes after an investigation cleared Shepherd of all charges of misconduct made by six Animals who posed as members of a group that calls itself Les Amis de Hieronymous (LAdeH) or The Friends of Hieronmyous.
At a press conference held this morning, Park Police spokesAnimal Serge Malinois said their “intensive” investigation concluded that the charges against Shepherd were made “falsely and with malicious intent” by the six Animals.
The Animals, who are currently in custody, are facing trial on a number of charges, including making false statements about a Guard Dog, inciting violence at a Park gathering, giving false personal information to police, and impersonating members of a Park association. They also have been charged with several counts each of bodily assault, stemming from the violence that they are alleged to have incited and in which they participated at the 2013 Return of the Nut.
The six, whose names have not yet been released, will likely remain in The Park Jail until their trial, which is expected to occur in the Summer. According to Malinois, the group poses a “significant” flight risk since none of the Animals is a Park resident or citizen.
“If they were to flee The Park, they would have no motivation to return for the trial and we would have no legal recourse. We would not be able to haul them back, since we have no jurisdiction over Animals once they have left The Park,” said Malinois.
