The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will be disciplining the state employee who tweeted that Howell should be the “first city to burn” in Michigan in the wake of the George Floyd killing, but the extent of that discipline – including whether or not she’ll lose her job – won’t be known until Friday.
Damia Morse, an employee at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Saline, tweeted on May 30 under the user name @WowDamia that “the first city to burn in michigan should be howell, all in favor say I.”
The DHHS then launched an investigation into Morse’s tweet and several follow-up tweets she made on the same subject. According to DHHS spokesperson Lynn Suftin, the department concluded that Morse’s actions warranted disciplinary measures, but she didn’t say what those measures will be. “The extent of that should be clear on Friday,” Suftin said.
Morse’s problems go beyond that, because she’s also facing possible criminal charges related to the social media posts. Howell Police Chief Scott Mannor said his department is also asking the Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office to issue charges of making a terrorist threat in the case.
“We originally just sent it out for a threats charge, but we’re going to request terrorist threats because my belief is that it’s exactly what it was — a terroristic threat,” Mannor told MLive.
The prosecutor’s office has yet to announce any action in the case.
State Rep. Hank Vaupel, R-Fowlerville, whose district includes Howell, said he supports criminal charges being brought. Morse has already contacted a criminal defense attorney for guidance.
“Like many in Livingston County, I am deeply saddened to hear about the recent threat calling for the city of Howell to be burned down,” Vaupel said. “I appreciate our local police looking into this and having our backs. This type of rhetoric shouldn’t be tolerated from anyone, let alone a state employee.”
