Christopher BergBy Sandy Malone and Christopher Berg
Milwaukee, WI – The felony sexual assault warrant for Jacob Blake has been vacated, and he was been released from police custody at Froedert Hostpial.
The 29-year-old fugitive has been in custody at the hospital since he was shot by police on Sunday.
Blake’s attorney told WISN that that warrant was vacated Friday.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Blake is no longer handcuffed.
“Earlier today, Mr. Blake posted the bond underlying the arrest warrant, enabling his release from custody. The hospital watch was discontinued immediately after receiving this information from Kenosha authorities,” a sheriff’s office spokesman told WISN.
The move comes hours after Blake’s father complained to CNN that his son was shackled in his hospital bed.
“Why do they have that cold steel on my son’s ankle?” Blake’s father said. “He can’t get up, he couldn’t get up if he wanted to.”
The sexual assault charges are still pending against Blake, even though he will not be in custody.
Blake was shot in front of his girlfriend’s home on Sunday by Kenosha police after resisting arrest.
Officials have said that the mother of three of Blake’s children had called 911 and reported that he was at her house and had taken her keys.
Blake was already wanted on charges in connection with the rape and domestic abuse of the same woman in May.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said in a statement that Blake fought with police and was Tased by two different officers, but the less-lethal weapon failed to control the suspect.
He admitted he was in possession of a knife and then ran from officers to the front of his car.
The city exploded in riots after cell phone video of only part of the encounter went viral and appeared to show a Kenosha officer shooting Blake in the back seven times as he leaned into his SUV.
A knife was found inside the car after the shooting, according to DCI.
Holly Matkin
