Grand Junction Police Officer Not Charged In Shooting

The Mesa County District Attorney announces that Officer Jacob Steele will not face charges.

In the early morning of November 11th, 2016 Grand Junction Police Officer Jacob Steele responded to the incident at 9th and Pitkin. It would be a day he will not soon forget.

Officer Steele came in contact with 24-year-old Brian Gaither. It would be reported that there was an altercation that led to Officer Steele being pinned in the door of the suspect's car and being dragged at a high rate of speed. Officer Steele ended the fray by firing several shots that wound up killing the suspect. KKCO NEWS11 has a recap on all the details involved in that incident.

The court ruled that the officer had no choice.

“he had no other option than to act with deadly physical force.”

The suspect had a warrant out on him for weapons and evading the police. Authorities also found a loaded shotgun, a crowbar, assorted stolen items and amphetamines inside Gaither's vehicle.

**A correction was made to the original post to correct the officer's name.