Wednesday, August 17, 2016
ST. ANTHONY, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota police chief defended his officer who shot and killed a black man during a traffic stop as level-headed and skilled in an interview with The Associated Press today, using his first public comments about the July incident to paint a contrasting picture of the officer shown screaming expletives while pointing his gun at the dying man in livestreamed footage of the shooting's aftermath.
St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez fatally shot 32-year-old Philando Castile during a traffic stop in nearby Falcon Heights on July 6. Castile's girlfriend streamed the aftermath live on Facebook and said Castile was shot several times while reaching for his ID after telling the officer he had a gun permit and was armed.
More than a month later, Yanez was expected to return to work for the first time today, Chief Jon Mangseth said. Yanez will perform desk duties and other administrative work until the investigation is completed and charging decisions are made, the chief said.
Mangseth wouldn't discuss any details of the shooting, including what prompted the traffic stop that preceded Castile's death, citing the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's ongoing review of the incident.
Mangseth also wouldn't say whether he thinks his officer should be charged or exonerated in the case. But he said the 28-year-old Yanez, who is Latino, has had a sterling reputation in St. Anthony's police ranks since joining the force in late 2011. The chief described Yanez as energetic and intelligent, a skilled officer whom he chose to join the department's special crime prevention program.
"He has a real sound ability when it comes to communicating and relating to people," Mangseth said. "He showed me that he could shine in that public eye."