Grand jury to investigate Fishkill police shooting

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Dutchess County Courthouse. MHNN file photo.

POUGHKEEPSIE – A Dutchess County grand jury will be examining the facts surrounding a shooting involving three Town of Fishkill police officers in February of this year.  Two people suffered gunshot wounds while one of the victims was struggling with the police.  The original report can be read here.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Matt Weishaupt told Mid-Hudson News that he will personally present the facts to the grand jury and the jurors will be tasked with determining what, if any, charges are appropriate against the officers involved.  The grand jury will also be asked to decide if the use of deadly force was justified.  Weishaupt is hoping to present the case to the jurors this month.

The three officers were placed on administrative leave immediately following the incident and their leave will continue until the grand jury investigation concludes.

The three cops had responded to an apartment complex on February 26th for a reported domestic incident.  Before arriving at the scene, they were approached by a man unrelated to the original call, who was brandishing a knife in the complex.

The man, now identified as 29-year-old Michael Becerril, was ordered to drop the weapon but he refused.  A department-issued TASER was deployed by an officer but it was ineffective.  A struggle then began with the three cops and Becerril.

During the struggle, Becerril was shot.  A woman, identified by State Police investigators as Chassity Wade, age 30, was also shot during the struggle.  Becerril was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center and Wade was treated at Montefiore St. Luke’s – Cornwall Hospital.

After the New York State Police investigated the incident, Becerril was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, namely a firearm.  He was arraigned virtually while in the hospital.  He was to be held at Dutchess County Jail on $100,000 cash bail when his condition allowed him to be released.

Becerril is being held at the state’s Fishkill Correctional Facility’s medical unit and is still receiving medical treatment.  When his condition allows him to be released, he will be prosecuted in Dutchess County Court on the weapons charge.




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