Jacob Blake drops lawsuit against Kenosha officer who shot him
Jacob Blake has dropped his civil rights lawsuit against the Kenosha police officer who shot him in the back in 2020, an incident that set off days of violent protests in the city.
Blake sued Rusten Sheskey in March of last year but dismissed the action Friday, according to court records. A one-page stipulation signed by lawyers from both sides indicates they’ve agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning Blake can not refile the claim.
U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller signed an order granting the dismissal Monday.
“Officer Sheskey is extremely happy with the results,” said his attorney, Kenneth M. Battle, of Chicago. “The dismissal of the case was not the result of a settlement. To be clear, no money changed hands for this dismissal.”
Sheskey is relieved, Battle said, and thankful to his supporters and hoping to move on with his life.
Battle said he prays for “healing, unity and peace” for Kenosha. “Let’s begin to rebuild the bonds that have been frayed by such an unfortunate turn of events.”
Patrick Salvi II, Blake’s attorney, did not return repeated messages.
Sheskey and other officers had responded to a domestic call on Aug. 23, 2020. Blake refused their orders and was getting into an SUV when Sheskey fired seven times.
Blake, 31, had a knife, and Sheskey was neither charged nor disciplined. Blake was left partially paralyzed from the shooting.
The shooting touched off days of violent protests in Kenosha, during which Kyle Rittenhouse killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 28.
A jury later acquitted Rittenhouse of all charges in the case after arguing he acted in self-defense.