WABE legal analyst weighs in on officers receiving no charges in the death of Rayshard Brooks

On the Tuesday edition of “Closer Look,” WABE legal analyst Page Pate discusses the state’s conclusion that officers Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan will not be charged for the 2020 shooting of Rayshard Brooks.

On Tuesday, Special Prosecutor Pete Skandalakis announced that the officers involved in the 2020 death of Rayshard Brooks acted within the scope of their duties in using fatal force against Brooks. The prosecutor cited the use of a taser by Brooks as a weapon of deadly force, concluding that Rolfe and Brosnan committed no crimes.

“[They] both acted as reasonable officers would under the facts and circumstances of that night. [They] both acted in accordance with well-established law and were justified in the use of force regarding the situation,” Skandalakis said in the Aug. 23 press conference.

WABE Legal Analyst Page Pate offered measures for improvement in the case proceedings.

“These officers, at that moment in time, were not in danger of being killed by Mr. Brooks,“ Pate said. “I disagree with Mr. Skandalakis [and] Mr. Porter. … They’re looking at this from a different perspective. This case should’ve gone to a jury.”