Judge Hearing Jay Anderson Jr. Case Pushes Back Decision

WAUWATOSA, WI — A Milwaukee judge set to decide Friday whether or not to charge a former Wauwatosa police officer in the killing of a man five years ago has pushed his decision back to July.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Glenn Yamahiro was set to decide Friday whether or not to charge Joseph Mensah in the fatal shooting of Jay Anderson Jr.

Kimberley Motley, an attorney representing Anderson's family, told Patch that the date was changed to July 28. A secretary working in Yamahiro's chambers confirmed the date change to Patch.

Mensah has been cleared by the Milwaukee County District Attorney in three separate fatal shootings, with the most recent one being in 2020.

Jay Anderson Jr. was fatally shot at Madison Park in June 2016 after an officer, later identified by officials as Mensah, responded to a report of suspicious vehicle parked outside Madison Park around 3 a.m. Reports indicated the officer encountered Anderson in possession of a gun inside the vehicle. Authorities said Mensah feared for his safety and fired his gun into the car, killing Anderson. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm cleared Mensah of the shooting in December 2016, saying the officer would not face any charges.

Antonio Gonzalez was shot and killed in July 2015 by Mensah and fellow officer Jeffrey Newman after authorities said Gonzalez swung a sword and refused to drop it. Authorities determined the officers shot at Gonzalez in self-defense. Mensah and the fellow officer were cleared by prosecutors later that year.

In the February 2020 killing of Alvin Cole at Mayfair Mall, prosecutors determined that Mensah would not face charges as Chisholm said he did not believe the state could meet the burden required to bring charges.

Anderson's family is using an obscure legal option known as a John Doe to start a proceeding against Mensah, The Associated Press reported. A judge will hear testimonies from witnesses and charge the defendant directly in the proceeding.

See also:

• Joseph Mensah Will Not Face Charges In Fatal Police Shooting: DA
• Former Tosa Officer Mensah Sworn In As Waukesha County Deputy