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Jacob Bender

Age : 39

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 07/26/2021

Location : N. State Street and Bush Street

City : Gobles

County : Van Buren

State : Michigan

Agency : Van Buren County Sheriff's Office

Officer(s) :Deputy Chad Newell

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during domestic violence

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 07/26/2021, Van Buren County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report of a domestic assault at a residence near North State Street and Bush Street in Gobles. Deputies initially searched the home but were unable to locate Jacob Bender. After obtaining a search warrant, they returned later that evening. Bender's wife told deputies he was hiding in a crawl space beneath the home.
A sheriff's K-9 was deployed to locate Bender inside the confined crawl space. According to investigators, Bender stabbed the dog multiple times after it entered the space. Deputies attempted to subdue him with a Taser, but the confrontation continued. Deputy Chad Newell then fired his weapon, fatally wounding Bender. The police dog survived after emergency veterinary treatment.
The Michigan State Police conducted the investigation into the shooting and submitted its findings to the Van Buren County Prosecutor. In December 2021, Prosecutor Michael A. Bedford announced that Deputy Chad Newell's use of deadly force was legally justified under Michigan law and that no criminal charges would be filed. The prosecutor concluded that the deputy reasonably believed deadly force was necessary under the circumstances described by investigators.
Bender's family disputed the official account and questioned whether deadly force was necessary after he had already been located in the crawl space. Relatives told reporters that Bender had struggled with substance use and mental health issues and said they believed the encounter could have ended differently. Neighbors also reported that deputies had been called to the residence numerous times during the previous year for domestic disturbances, illustrating a long history of law enforcement involvement before the fatal encounter.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://wwmt.com/news/local/police-at-house-in-gobles
https://www.woodtv.com/news/van-buren-county/man-who-stabbed-k-9-dog-shot-killed-by-deputy-in-van-buren-co/
https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/officer-fatally-shoots-suspect-who-allegedly-stabbed-k-9/69-514332ff-7f9c-4e59-919d-da46751449e8
https://wwmt.com/news/local/deputies-called-to-gobles-home-19-times-in-past-year-where-man-was-shot-and-killed
https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/sheriffs-deputy-fatally-shoots-man-after-police-dog-stabbed-in-van-buren-county/
https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/south-mi/van-buren/suspect-shot-and-killed-after-stabbing-k-9-officer-in-van-buren-county
https://apnews.com/article/police-dogs-c361d9cd0862cf5b7a35ece8fc4b9cfa
https://www.police1.com/k-9/articles/man-repeatedly-stabs-k-9-is-fatally-shot-officials-say-S7mLBD9bZ4K548Ai/
https://www.abc57.com/news/deputies-kill-suspect-who-stabbed-k-9-attempted-to-stab-officers
https://pjmedia.com/kevindowneyjr/2021/07/29/k9-officer-stabbed-3-times-survives-his-attacker-was-not-so-lucky-n1465522
https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/south-mi/van-buren/not-surprised-family-speaks-out-after-39-year-old-man-was-shot-killed-by-deputy