Photo: Philando Castile
A use of force expert testified Wednesday that St. Anthony (MN) police Officer Jeronimo Yanez should not have used deadly force against Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights last July.
Jeffrey Noble, whose expert witness consulting firm website says he’s worked in law enforcement for 28 years, testified for the prosecution that Yanez’s “use of deadly force was unreasonable, excessive and inappropriate.”
Noble spent about an hour-and-a-half on the stand Wednesday.
ABC 6 reports that the expert raised concerns the that Yanez never mentioned to his partner that Castile had a gun, either in the moment after learning about the gun, or after the shooting.
“If told you have a threat, let the partner know right away,” Noble said. “It allows the officer to get in a safer position, just in case.”
There have been no other reported details on why this expert says that deadly force should not have been used and the fact that an officer did not notify another officer about the gun has nothing to do with whether the use of force was justified or not.
We will continue to follow this case.