Northeast News
Feb. 20, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — A Kansas City, Mo., police officer has been indicted by a Jackson County grand jury in connection to a shooting of a 37-year-old Kansas City man.

In a press release, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced Friday that Jacob I. Ramsey, 31, has been charged with first-degree assault causing serious physical injury, a class A felony, and armed criminal action. The shooting took place on June 24, 2014.

In a story filed at the time of the incident, officers arrived at a home on the 6400 block of 15th Terrace, between Fremont Avenue and Bennington Boulevard, to serve an outstanding warrant. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the subject, who then attempted to flee the residence. An officer believed the subject was preparing to shoot him and fired his weapon.

The indictment became public Friday afternoon when Ramsey appeared in court for arraignment on the indictment. A Jackson County judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. Ramsey’s attorney waived his right to a jury trial and requested a bench trial before the judge. The trial has been set for April 2-3, 2015.

The grand jury’s responsibility is to determine whether probable cause exists that a crime was committed. The trial judge’s responsibility will be to determine whether there’s sufficient evidence to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. No probable cause statement was issued with the indictment of Ramsey because the grand jury investigated the officer-involved shooting.

In an email from Tye Grant, of the KCPD’s media unit, Ramsey is a nearly five-year veteran of the department and is a member of the Tactical Enforcement Unit. He is currently on unpaid administrative leave.