Jan. 5, 2021 9:30p
(WGTD)---Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley--in clearing Police Officer Rusten Sheskey of any charges in connection with the Jacob Blake shooting last summer--agreed with Sheskey's basic premise for why he acted the way he did--that Blake needed to be stopped.
Graveley and a use-of-force expert hired by the county--former Madison Police Chief Noble Wray--laid out the facts of the case and their interpretations in a two-hour-long presentation at the Parkway Chateau Tuesday.
Many details are not in dispute. Sheskey and two other officers responded to a domestic incident. On the way there, the officers learned that Blake was wanted on a felony warrant for allegedly assaulting the woman who had just called police. Sheskey refused officers' commands and started fighting. He pulled out a knife and tried to leave in the woman's car with three kids in the backseat, at least some of which were his.
The next few seconds were captured by the infamous video that has been viewed millions of times. Sheskey shoots Blake in the back and side as Blake, purportedly with the knife still in his hand, turns toward Sheskey.
Sheskey told investigators that at that point he was concerned for his own safety, as well as the well-being of the children, whom he feared could wind up as hostages or possibly be injured in a pursuit if one should occur. "All of these things are things he's considering when he puts himself in harm's way and grabs that t-shirt of Jacob Blake," Graveley said.
Wray concurred with the assessment that trying to stop Blake was the right thing to do. "Any officer worth their salt--they're not going to let someone leave under those circumstances. There are reports upon reports...where you have a domestic situation where children become victims," he said.
If charges were to be filed against Sheskey, it would be up to the state to prove that self-defense was not justified.
Blake, who would become the state's key witness, has some credibility problems. Even though Blake said he had no intention of harming the officer, investigators dug up a 2010 report on a Cook County incident in which Blake allegedly pulled a knife on officers and made slashing motions at one of them. In that case, officers held their fire. In another incident, Blake may have lied when he told investigators he had no idea that a warrant had been issued for his arrest. After examining Blake's phone, Investigators found text messages about the warrant and a browsing history that included a check of online court records about the case.
Graveley began his presentation by saying the Blake case is a tragedy for all concerned, and he praised the Blake family for remaining positive. Graveley spoke to Blake over the phone just before his presentation to reporters.
Sheskey and the other two officers who responded to the August incident remain on paid administrative leave.
The U.S. Attorney's office is conducting a civil rights investigation and has yet to report its findings.
-0-