Two of three police officers, who were at the site when an officer shot Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, paralysing him, have returned to duty, reports Associated Press.
Blake was shot by Rusten Sheshkey on the night of August 23, 2020, in Wisconsin’s Kenosha, as the police officers were responding to a domestic incident in the city. The incident had sparked massive outrage among people and several nights of unrest at the time when the nation was already witnessing widespread demonstrations against racism and police brutality.
Officers Vincent Arenas and Brittany Meronek present at the scene at the time of the shooting returned to the office on January 20 while Sheskey remains on administrative leave as a police review board is examining the case, reports AP. All three were sent on administrative leave after the incident came to light.
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“Officers Arenas and Meronek were not charged with a crime and after review by the Kenosha County District Attorney and an independent investigator, former Madison Police Chief Noble Wray, the actions taken by the officers were reasonable and justified,” the statement said, AP quotes.
Earlier in the month of January, the Kenosha district attorney announced that no police officers will face charges in Blake’s case. “No Kenosha law enforcement officer, in this case, will be charged with any criminal offense, based on the facts of the law,” Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley said.
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The announcement came after National Security Guard was mobilised in Kenosha in preparation for possible violence in the city ahead of the case’s verdict.
Sheskey was caught on camera shooting Blake in the back multiple times as he tried to get back into his vehicle with his children inside. The police officers were trying to arrest Blake on an outstanding warrant.