The police officer who killed a motorist in a shooting whose aftermath was livestreamed on Facebook was defended by his chief Wednesday as a level-headed member of the force with "a real sound ability when it comes to communicating and relating to people."
In an interview with The Associated Press, St. Anthony Police Chief Jon Mangseth sketched a portrait at odds with the mainstream media's image of the officer.
The St. Anthony police officer fatally shot 32-year-old Philando Castile during a traffic stop in nearby Falcon Heights on July 6. Castile's girlfriend streamed the aftermath live on Facebook and said Castile was shot several times while reaching for his ID after telling the officer he had a gun permit and was armed.
More than a month later, the officer returned to work for the first time Wednesday, Mangseth said. The officer will perform desk duties and other administrative work until the investigation is completed and charging decisions are made, the chief said.
