The initial video released of the Jacob Blake police incident picked up as Blake headed to his vehicle apparently in defiance of police orders to stop. Since its release, we now have more information about the incident, including video of the earlier part of the confrontation between Blake and police.
This newly-released video shows Blake brawling with police officers before detaching himself and walking to the driver’s side of his vehicle. Reports indicate that he had a knife, and that the knife was later found in the vehicle. Blake’s attorney denied that his client had any weapons in the vehicle, something contradicted by a later Wisconsin Department of Justice update.
The Kenosha police do not wear bodycams, so the following video is taken by a bystander.
The Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation and Attorney General Josh Kaul provided updates on the investigation Wednesday.
An attempt to use nonlethal force failed when a taser reportedly “was unsuccessful.” It is not clear at this time if the taser device failed or if it discharged properly but had no impact on the target.
DCI said Officer Rusten Sheskey and other Kenosha police officers were originally sent to a home on the 2800 block of 40th Street after a woman reported that her boyfriend was there when he was not supposed to be on the premises.Officials said Sheskey has been an officer with Kenosha police for seven years.Police tried to arrest Blake and deployed a Taser to stop him. Officials said Blake walked around his vehicle, opened the driver’s side door and leaned forward.Sheskey fired his service weapon seven times into Blake’s back while holding onto his shirt, according to DCI.Police said no other officer fired their weapon. The Kenosha Police Department does not have body cameras, which is why no body cam footage is available.In an investigation after the shooting, officials said Blake admitted he was possessing a knife, which was recovered from the driver’s side floorboard of his vehicle. No other weapons were found in the car.The update conflicts with Blake’s attorney Ben Krump, who said Blake did not have any weapons in the vehicle at all.Blake immediately received medical aid and was taken to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, where he remains hospitalized.The involved officers have also been placed on administrative leave.
Wisconsin governor Tony Evers (D) immediately issued a statement condemning police use of “excessive force.”
The local police union is pushing back.
Meanwhile, the police union representing officers on the Kenosha police force released a statement on Monday criticizing Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, who immediately condemned the ‘excessive force’ used by the cops.
‘Anytime deadly force is used, our hearts go out to those affected by it,’ Pete Deates, president of the Kenosha Professional Police Association, said in a statement.
‘We assure you an independent investigation is being conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation.
‘Until that investigation is completed, we ask that you withhold prejudgment about the incident and please the let process take place.
‘Governor Evers’ statement on the incident was wholly irresponsible and not reflective of the hardworking members of the law enforcement community, not to mention the citizens of the City of Kenosha.
‘As always, the video currently circulating does not capture all the intricacies of a highly dynamic incident. We ask that you withhold from passing judgement until all the facts are known and released.
‘We, along with the citizens of the great City of Kenosha, ask for peace and to let the process play out fairly and impartially.’
The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that it will be conducting a federal civil rights investigation of this police shooting.
We’ll continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
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