Police Officer who shot Jacob Blake back on duty, not facing charges

By Alyssa Wilson Published: April 14, 2021

Police Officer who shot Jacob Blake back on duty, not facing charges

FILE - In this September 2019 file photo taken in Evanston, Ill., and provided by Adria-Joi Watkins, Watkins, left, poses in a selfie with her second cousin Jacob Blake. A police officer shot Blake in the back multiple times after responding to a domestic dispute on Aug. 23, 2020. On Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, a Wisconsin prosecutor declined to file criminal charges against the officer who shot Blake. (Adria-Joi Watkins via AP, File)

The Kenosha Police Officer who shot and injured Jacob Blake is off administrative leave and back on duty, the police chief announced Tuesday.

Officer Rusten Sheskey was not charged in the incident that left Jacob Blaker Jr. partially paralyzed in August 2020.

Media Release pic.twitter.com/wdq5QaNNyk

— Kenosha Police Dept. (@KenoshaPolice) April 13, 2021

Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said the officer returned to duty March 31 and that he was found to be acting within policy when he shot Blake, NBC reported.

Three officers, including Sheskey, were attempting to arrest Blake for an outstanding warrant and a pocketknife fell out of his pocket.

Blake said he picked it up before heading back to his car and he planned to surrender once he put the knife away.

The officer told investigators that he feared for his safety and fired his weapon.

Blake’s children were in the back seat of the car when he was shot seven times.

The incident happened three months after the death of George Floyd.

Blake has filed a civil lawsuit accusing Sheskey of excessive force.