Prosecutor Reviewing TCPD Shooting Investigation Report

The Michigan State Police has completed its investigation of a fatal shooting of a domestic assault suspect by Traverse City Police Department officers in March. MSP's report has been forwarded to Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg, who tells The Ticker she will be reviewing the lengthy report - along with extensive body cam footage - and making a decision about whether any officers will face charges as "quickly" as possible.

TCPD officers shot and killed 50-year-old Darnell Wilson on March 13 after responding to an alleged domestic assault at a Munson Place residence. The TCPD said that Wilson charged at officers with a knife and ignored commands to drop the weapon. Officers deployed a taser but that didn't stop Wilson, at which point officers shot and killed the man. The officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave while MSP was brought in as an outside agency to investigate the shooting. Separate GoFundMe campaigns to cover Wilson's funeral expenses and recovery costs for the alleged domestic assault victim, who was hospitalized and later released, each raised thousands of dollars in community support.

MSP's investigation of the TCPD is now complete and has been submitted to Moeggenberg for review. The TCPD is still wrapping up its investigation of the domestic assault and plans to submit a report to the prosecutor "in the coming days," according to a TCPD release. Moeggenberg says that both she and Chief Assistant County Prosecutor Kyle Attwood will independently review MSP's report, which she described as lengthy with nine supplements. There's also "a lot of body cam footage to go through," Moeggenberg says.

Community group Northern Michigan E3 (NME3) has called on authorities to immediately release the body cam footage, saying the "community deserves to see an unedited, clear picture of the events as they unfolded. We call for the prompt release of all relevant video and audio recordings to prevent the spread of misinformation and to provide an objective record of the encounter."

Moeggenberg says she will release body cam footage and the police report to those who submit Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests once her review is complete. She notes that body cam footage has to be reviewed for possible redactions prior to release, which can sometimes take time to process. Redactions are covered under the law and intended to prevent "an unwarranted invasion of someone's privacy," such as footage in which someone's medical or other personal information can be seen or heard, Moeggenberg says. 

Moeggenberg hopes to review all the evidence by Monday and will then meet with Attwood to determine how to proceed, including whether to charge any of the officers involved. While Moeggenberg says she can't give an exact day when a decision will be announced, she intends to put out a press release addressing her decision once made. "I know people are waiting, so we'll do our very best to get through this quickly but also carefully," she says.