The Blendon Township police officer charged with murder in the shooting death of Ta'Kiya Young has been placed on unpaid leave.
The Blendon Township Board of Trustees said in a statement released Wednesday that budget cuts from a police levy failure in November are the reason they are moving Connor Grubb from paid administrative leave to unpaid leave.
"While we continue to uphold that Officer Grubb is presumed innocent until proven guilty and await access to critical evidence from the independent (Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation) investigation to make a fair decision regarding his employment, we cannot justify keeping an officer on paid leave while simultaneously being forced to reduce our active police force," the statement said.
The township, Grubb, and Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9 President Brian Steel reached a memorandum of understanding on the decision. In a statement, the FOP said it continues to stand behind Grubb.
Voters rejected a 4.53-mill levy in November.
Grubb is charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault in the death of Young and her unborn child at a Kroger store on South Sunbury Road in August 2023. Young was accused of shoplifting.
Grubb stood in front of her car and shot Young as she pulled forward in her vehicle and started pushing against the officer. His trial has been scheduled to begin on Nov. 3.
网曝黑料 has reached out to lawyer Sean Walton, who is representing Young's family, for comment.
