James City County officer will not be facing charges in Jan. 6 shooting
JAMES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — The officer involved in a January shooting incident in James City County will not face charges, James City County Police said.
Previously: JCC officer fires weapon during domestic dispute call; 1 in custody
The investigation by Virginia State Police and the Williamsburg/James City County Commonwealth’s Attorney determined the officer did not commit a crime.
The incident happened at 6:55 p.m. Jan. 6 in the 5200 block of Pierside Reach in the Lake Powell Pointe subdivision, and no one was injured. Police had said that a James City County police officer fired their gun after a man allegedly came toward them with a shotgun.
Paul Baker, 83, of James City County, is scheduled for a 7:59 a.m. hearing Aug. 8 in Williamsburg/James City County General District Court on a felony charge of assault on a law enforcement officer, and misdemeanor charges of pointing and brandishing a firearm and reckless handling of a firearm.
The officer, who had ben placed on a non-enforcement assignment, has returned to normal duties.
“I commend the bravery and professionalism exhibited by our officers involved in the Jan. 6 incident,” said James City County Police Chief Mark Jamison. “Policing is inherently dangerous, and our officers put their lives on the line daily to protect our community. I would like to thank the Virginia State Police for conducting a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident, the Commonwealth Attorney’s office for diligently examining the findings and providing a fair and just assessment of the situation, and the public for their patience as an independent review was conducted.”
Check with WAVY.com for more updates.
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