Saginaw approves purchase of non-lethal weapons after summer shooting of homeless man

The fatal shooting of a homeless, mentally ill man in Saginaw has inspired officials to purchase three non-lethal weapons for police.

Assistant City Manager Phil Ludos says the purchase was under consideration before Milton Hall's death last summer. But he says the shooting was the "impetus to get it moving forward."

The Saginaw City Council on Monday approved the $5,000 purchase of shotguns known as "bean-bag" guns. They can be used to stun and disarm someone. Saginaw police had one but it was locked up and unavailable.

Hall was shot 11 times and killed in a parking lot after refusing to drop a knife. The Saginaw County prosecutor said no charges would be filed, although some officers were disciplined by the police department.