The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office ruled the officer-involved shooting outside the Roseville Police Department earlier this month “justified” after a man rammed a patrol vehicle. Body camera and surveillance video showed a 36-year-old Roseville man driving into a police SUV, then getting out with a hunting knife. Officers ordered him to drop the weapon, and when he did not comply, they fired seven shots, hitting him six times, as reported by CBS News Detroit.
Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham told FOX 2 Detroit that when officers surrounded the suspect, “He’s armed, he’s a threat, they feared for their life,” after he crashed into a patrol SUV with officers inside. The suspect is in critical condition at a local hospital under guard. The investigation is complete, and no criminal charges will be filed against the Roseville officers, who are expected to return to work. According to Wickersham, the suspect supported law enforcement and had no known criminal history. The family reported mental health concerns, and the motive is unknown. Wickersham said, “There was note, no manifesto, no anything like that that would give us any indication of why he targeted them that day.”
A debate over the use of lethal force has followed the shooting, with the suspect’s attorney William Barnwell telling WXYZ, “Everybody has rights under the law and there’s a number of defenses that could play out here.” Sheriff Wickersham told reporters the suspect’s condition is uncertain, saying “It’s touch and go,” while officers involved were not injured, as per FOX 2 Detroit. In response to the incident, Roseville Police are implementing new security measures, including restricting parking near the station and giving officers more time to assess their surroundings when exiting the building. If the suspect survives, he is expected to be arraigned on charges including assault with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of police property.
