Racine County park police shooting; no criminal charges for officers
CALEDONIA, Wis. - Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson announced on Friday, Sept. 6 that there will be no criminal charges for involved law enforcement who fatally shot a man near Cliffside Park in Caledonia on July 10. That man, identified by officials as Jesse Patt, discharged his firearm during a tactical situation.
A two-hour standoff ended in a barrage of bullets on that Wednesday. For the first time, we are seeing video of the aftermath of that July 10 police shooting in Caledonia. But to understand how it ended, you have to go back a few hours to how and why it started.
Police were called to Cliffside Park just before 10 a.m. about a man lying on the ground. About 11 minutes later, Patt fired a gun into the air.
After officers drew their weapons, Patt started to make suicidal comments.
Then, after officers try to take Patt down, the fathe roof four reveals what led him to there.
"I killed my mother," Patt is heard saying.
Patt said he shot his mother and set the house on fire with her inside two days prior. Police confirmed Patt was connected to the July 8 house fire in Racine – where they found 67-year-old Cheryl Christensen deceased inside, fatally shot.
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During the standoff, police said Patt dropped his gun, drank liquor and smoked a crack pipe.
Officers eventually threw him a box with cigarette and a phone to lure him away from his gun. They shot him with less lethal rounds. But when Patt reached for his gun, officers fired theirs first.
Racine County park police shooting; man fatally shot after firing weapon
The Racine County Sheriff's Office says law enforcement officers fatally shot a man who discharged his firearm during a tactical situation near Cliffside Park in Caledonia.
Outside agencies including the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory and the Wisconsin State Patrol handled the investigation.