Source: Ex-NYPD Sgt. Who Shot Man to Face Tampering Charge
The former NYPD sergeant who shot a man he claimed to be a robber while off-duty last summer -- then was caught on camera planting an item by the victim --- is expected to be charged with evidence tampering, according to a source familiar with the case.
But the source says Ritchard Blake is not expected to face charges in the actual shooting of the man back on Aug. 2.
The footage, which contains no audio, shows the two men having words for about 20 seconds before the sergeant pulls his gun. The other man appears to brace himself before being shot.
Afterward, the officer can be seen dropping a shiny item next to the man; he later returns and picks the item back up.
Law enforcement sources told News 4 at that time that the two had an ongoing dispute, possibly over a woman.
The victim survived the shooting.
Blake wasn't hurt, but was placed on modified duty, NYPD Chief Terrence Monahan said the day of the shooting. Blake was subsequently fired.
"There are certain things that we saw during this investigation that we have questions that are unanswered at this point. Until we answer them, we felt it was best to place him on modified duty," Monahan said at a press conference following the shooting.
Blake was allegedly on his way to work that August morning when he shot the 21-year-old. He later told police the man walked up to him in Brooklyn and said something like, "You're gonna die tonight," before pretending he had a gun and trying to rob him, authorities and sources familiar with the investigation previously told News 4.
Blake told police at the time that he was was walking toward his car when the man approached him. The officer was wearing plainclothes when the incident occurred.
The sergeant told police he said "don't rob me" and offered the man his cellphone instead. Then he pulled out the gun and fired twice, striking the man in the chin, authorities said.
According to police, the officer said the man threatened him and acted as though he had a gun, though he never showed a weapon.
from NBC New York - Top Stories https://ift.tt/2FvwyOA
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