HONOLULU – A part-time U.S. Census worker in Hawaii arrested for trespassing while handing out government forms won't be prosecuted, following a deal that dismisses a charge against him.
The settlement at federal court in Honolulu on Thursday also requires that local police be better trained in how to deal with Census workers.
Fifty-seven-year-old Russell Haas says he hopes the case prevents similar arrests of other Census workers across the country.
Haas was arrested March 20 after he entered the property of a Big Island resident, a county police officer, who refused to accept Census forms.
The misdemeanor trespassing charge could have brought maximum penalties of a $1,000 fine and 30 days in prison.
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