Alaska Officer Involved in Fatal OIS Last Year Returns to Duty

An officer with the Juneau Police Department who fatally shot a suspect during a 911 call in December has been cleared to return to administrative duty while the investigation into the incident continues.

According to Alaska Public Media , police say Officer James Esbenshade gave numerous verbal commands to 34-year-old Kelly Michael Stephens to stop swinging a rope with a chain attached to the end before firing a single shot, mortally wounding the assailant.

Reports of the incident indicate that Stephens verbally threatened Officer Esbenshade with death before the officer responded with deadly force.

Alaska State Troopers and the Juneau Police Department are both investigating the incident.