A Milwaukee County judge announced Wednesday that he has found probable cause to charge former Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah in the 2016 fatal shooting of Jay Anderson Jr.
"This decision has not been taken lightly, nor was it predetermined," Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Glenn Yamahiro said.
The decision came more than five years after the shooting, which occurred June 23, 2016, at Madison Park in Wauwatosa. At the time, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office ruled the shooting justified self-defense.
"Based upon the totality of the circumstances, the court does find probable cause that Officer Joseph Mensah operated a weapon, in a matter constituting criminal negligence, and in so doing, caused the death of Jay Anderson Jr.," Yamahiro said.
"Therefore, the court finds probable cause that Officer Mensah committed the crime, homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon. The basis for this finding rests on the testimony received over the course of these hearings."