WYOMING, Mich. – The Michigan State Police completed their investigation of the fatal officer-involved shooting in Wyoming on Jan. 29. Officials, including the Kent County Prosecutor, found officers’ actions that day to be legally justified.
Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth released his 12-page detailed report on Monday in which he stated, “it is abundantly clear that (the suspect) James’ actions placed Officers Duimstra, Hartuniewicz and Whitcomb in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm.”
Forsyth has decided the officers involved, including one Wyoming officer and one Kentwood officer, will not be charged in shooting of Alan James, as protected by self-defense or the defense of others.
On the day of the shooting, James had wounded Officer Hartuniewicz and shot at Officers Duimstra and Whitcomb; firing from one or more weapons. Forsyth also stated that James was “extremely intoxicated and repeatedly ignored requests to put down his weapons.”
Toxicology reports showed that within one hours of his arrest on Jan. 29, James’ blood alcohol level was .28.
