Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer says his department will not move forward in a criminal investigation against city council candidate Miguel Arias.

“Detectives from the Fresno Police Department have conducted several interviews. Based on the statements provided and the lack of physical evidence, and after consulting with the District Attorney’s Office, a criminal investigation will not be initiated,” Dyer said late Friday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, Dyer had said that his department was investigating Arias following allegations of wrongdoing.

Arias, who won the June primary, is running against Tate Hill.

Arias Denies Wrongdoing

Earlier Friday, Arias vehemently said that he had done nothing wrong.

After Dyer’s statement that the probe was over, Arias said:

“I’m sorry the chief had to spend our limited public safety resources on these baseless claims. City Hall needs to refocus their time getting Business Friendly Fresno 2.0! operational and fixing our neighborhoods instead of running political campaigns against me and Measure P.”

Measure P is a 3/8 cent sales tax proposal to boost parks, trails and the cultural arts.

One of Mayor Lee Brand’s top aides, John Ellis, told GV Wire earlier Friday that he had “been contacted by a Fresno Police Department detective involving an incident with Miguel Arias in which I was in direct witness, but since it’s an active investigation I have been asked not to comment further on the matter.”

Brand has endorsed Hill in the race.

Here is a link to the earlier story.