Wayne prosecutor calls citizen 'Cheeto eater' when asked why not prosecute prankster

This story was updated to add new information.

RICHMOND, Ind. — The Wayne County prosecutor, when questioned about an apparent decision to not file criminal charges against a recent YouTube prankster who duct-taped himself to a telephone pole along U.S. 40, allegedly responded angrily and called the critic a "Cheeto eater."

Dawson, whose last name is unknown, also known as "dawszn" on YouTube, posted a video on Sept. 22 showing that he allegedly duct-taped himself to a telephone pole outside of Red Lobster on U.S. 40 the day before.

What followed was a response from the Richmond police and fire departments who were able to retrieve him, before RPD detained him and put in the back of a squad car. While in the squad car, Dawson live streamed on Instagram, before officers let him go with a trespass ban from the property along with a warning for disorderly conduct.

Adam Blanton, assistant chief for the Richmond Police Department, said he was not sure if the prosecutor's office will elect to charge him.

When asked by Facebook user Christopher Shawn Durham why he didn't pursue charges, Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Shipman allegedly responded: "Hey Cheeto eater, go to college for 7 years, get elected prosecutor and then you can make the decision. Otherwise shut the hell up because your opinion does not matter."

Durham, who has cerebral palsy, grew up in Cambridge City but has lived in Akron, Ohio, for 20 years because of medical reasons. He said he keeps in contact with friends and family still living in Wayne County every day to know what's going on.

Shipman did not respond to multiple requests for comment this week.

Evan Weaver is a news and sports reporter at The Palladium-Item. Contact him on X (@evan_weaver7) or email at eweaver@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Wayne prosecutor calls citizen 'Cheeto eater' when asked why not prosecute prankster