Editor’s note: This story was updated to the correct type that the victim was Sikh.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel will review Shelby Township’s 2018 police review of an unarmed Sikh man after her mother said she called police for fear of her safety.
Kanwarbir Malhi’s mother says she wondered what had happened that night.
“I wonder, is it your fault whether you shot or not?” Gurraj Malhi said. “What I don’t perceive is how I call the police to take him safely to the house, and he ends up dying.”
Malhi, 25, was shot dead by Shelthrough Township police on November 3, 2018. The incident was investigated through Shelthrough Township Police and macomb County Sheriff’s Office and the prosecutor declined to press charges.
Police responded to a call in which Malhi’s mother reported that her son was illegal narcotic and that his 2005 Honda had been stolen. According to police, his mother said Kanwarbir, who did not have a driver’s license, took the vehicle. Upon their arrival, police said they were informed through a circle of relatives that Malhi had discussed “the suicide of a police officer.”
A vehicle officer in the parking lot of the Spring Hill apartment complex, where his mother lived, according to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.
Malhi in the driver’s seat. After giving Malhi several orders, officials testified that Malhi had refused to comply with police orders and believed he was armed.
An investigation revealed he was unarmed.
Nessel said it would review the case and provide its findings impartially and transparently. The reopening of the case was triggered by a video of the dashboard camera that was released on Monday. The footage of the video was never noticed through the public before Monday’s release, however, they were owned by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.
Warning: this graphic video content
The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office won the footage after an investigation through the Shelthrough Township Police Department. Police Chief Robert Shelide said at the original news convention that he and the other two officials on Shelthrough’s executive board had to refer the matter to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office after their investigation. The sheriff’s workplace submitted the effects of his investigation to the Macomb County District Attorney’s Office, which failed to take into account press fees opposed to officials involved in the shooting.
Nessel’s workplace launched thursday morning.
“As Attorney General, I have advocated for a thorough, comprehensive and objective review of all shootings involving officers, especially those resulting in deaths,” Nessel said. This factor will be the subject of comprehensive review and research with an independent attitude and, once completed, our branch is committed to being transparent in our decision-making, regardless of the outcome. Justice demands nothing less.
Warning: this graphic video content
Karanjit Malhi, the victim’s brother, said the family circle was grateful to be informed that Nessel would re-examine the case.
“We want answers,” Malhi told the Detroit News on Thursday morning. “We want justice for my brother.”
Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said he appreciated the review.
“In light of recent research into our investigation, we invite the Attorney General’s workplace to review our investigation, facts, and findings that have been presented to the Macomb County District Attorney’s Office,” Wickersham said in a supply through the Attorney General’s workplace. “We will provide the Attorney General’s workplace with everything he needs, while still being open and transparent.”
Protests have been going on in the borough since June, following incendiary publications by police leader Robert Shelide about black Lives Matter demonstrators. He then suspended for 30 days through the canton’s board of directors.
Shelide went to paint on Monday and his return attracted about 60 protesters, adding the Reverend W.J. Rideout and others who knelt in the middle of Van Dyke and blocked traffic.
Rideout, who was arrested Wednesday at a protest, was the first to speak in the video.
“I think Attorney General Dana Nessel wants to look at this factor and see how to set rates opposite this Shelby Township Police Department,” Rideout said.
“In fact, all police officers involved in the shootings must be publicly available. Unfortunately, given what’s happening, what we need now is transparency.”
The protesters called for the impeachment or resignation of Shelide and Shelby Township Manager John Vermeulen, who allegedly shared a Facebook message mocking the removal of Quaker Oats’ Aunt Jemima less than two days after he and 4 other administrators suspended Shelide for their posts.
Macomb County Director Mark Hackel said that while he doesn’t think it’s appropriate to comment publicly on the video because he doesn’t have “full knowledge” or “the entire incident,” he thinks as long as Shelide is still up and running. If anything questionable happens, Shelby Township [the police department] will be subjected to “scrutiny.”
“Because of his conduct, he put the branch in a bad position,” Hackell told the Detroit News. Shelide even admitted that his movements were unacceptable and that the board still stopped him.
Shelide, on a social media account alias, said protesters should be placed in “body bags” and that “real cops” deal with barbarians.
Rideout, who staged protests in the borough, told the Detroit News on Monday that demonstrators would continue their protests. “Let’s keep walking until he’s gone, ” referring to Shelide.