SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) — No charges will be filed by the Van Buren County Prosecutor for antisemitic fliers that were distributed in South Haven neighborhoods last week, police say.

On Sept. 27, officers received reports of antisemitic flyers being thrown out of a car window for several miles between 18th Avenue and Northshore Drive. After witnesses described the car, the man was cited for littering and obstructing a license plate with mud, police said.

The investigation was turned over to the prosecutor who later declined to file charges, the police department said.

“In past cases, courts have ruled that distributing hate-filled fliers, even those with offensive and racist content, can be considered protected speech under the First Amendment if they do not incite violence or constitute direct threats,” the South Haven Police Department said in a release.

In Michigan, the police department said, there are specific requirements that need to be met to have something be considered a hate crime, like incitement or direct threats but does not have regulations addressing hate speech.

Police are collaborating with the FBI and the Anti-Defamation League to ensure that no other laws were violated.

The police department said the man, who is from Niles, is part of a group that tries to gain attention by provoking outrage. He also intends to distribute more fliers.

“While we recognize the hateful content of these messages is distressing, we encourage residents to ignore these outsiders and deny this group the attention it craves,” the police department said in a release.