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Jacob Blake no longer handcuffed to Wisconsin hospital bed

Wisconsin authorities on Friday removed the handcuffs that restrained Jacob Blake to his hospital bed and have vacated a felony arrest warrant against him.

Paul Cafferty, an attorney for the 29-year-old Black man who was shot seven times in the back by a Kenosha police officer Sunday night, confirmed that the Kenosha County District Attorney assisted in the removal of the shackles, WTMJ reported. Blake was handcuffed because of a warrant against him for criminal charges in July, the television station reported. Daniel Miskinis, Kenosha’s chief of police, said Friday he did not know for sure whether that warrant had any connection to the officers’ response Sunday when Blake was shot, The Washington Post reported.

Blake is paralyzed below the waist for now.

Police and deputies who were standing guard outside Blake’s hospital room in Wauwatosa have left, officials said.

“Earlier today, Mr. Blake posted the ($500) bond underlying the arrest warrant, enabling his release from custody,” Milwaukee County Sheriff’s investigator Scott Still said in a statement. “The hospital watch was discontinued immediately after receiving this information from Kenosha authorities.”

Blake can leave the hospital when he is healthy, Cafferty told reporters.

Cafferty reached an agreement with Michael Graveley, Kenosha’s district attorney, who agreed to vacate the arrest warrant. The decision does not affect the criminal case against Blake, the Times reported.

“The merits of the case have not been addressed,” Cafferty said.

Family members had said the sight of Blake restrained to his hospital bed was disturbing.

“Why do they have that cold steel on my son’s ankle?” Blake’s father, Jacob Blake Sr. asked Friday during an interview with CNN. “He can’t get up, he couldn’t get up if he wanted to.”

The shooting of Blake by Officer Rusten Sheskey sparked protests in Kenosha and led to the shooting deaths of two men Tuesday night.

Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, of Antioch, Illinois, was charged with two counts of reckless homicide and use of a dangerous weapon, WDJT reported. Rittenhouse was also charged with two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and use of a dangerous weapon, one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and use of a dangerous weapon, and one count of possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under the age of 18, the television station reported.

According to a criminal complaint, Blake was charged in July with third-degree sexual assault, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, The New York Times reported. The charges were filed after a former friend accused Blake of breaking into his home while she was asleep and assaulting her, according to court documents. The woman also accused Blake of taking her car and debit card, according to court documents.

Police were called to the woman’s home Sunday after she reported a man was at her home who was not allowed to be there, the Times reported.

On Friday, the Wisconsin Department of Justice revealed new details about Blake’s shooting. The department had previously reported that one officer had fired a Taser in a failed attempt to stop Blake, but the agency said Friday that Sheskey and fellow officer Vincent Arenas had discharged their Tasers before Sheskey shot Blake, the Times reported.

A third officer, Brittany Meronek, also was present at the scene, the department said. All three officers have been placed on administrative leave.

During a news conference Thursday, a reporter asked Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers if he was concerned about Blake being restrained by the handcuffs, WISN reported.

“Hell, yes. I would have no personal understanding why that would be necessary,” Evers said. “Certainly, he’s paid a horrific price already being shot seven or eight times in the back. I can’t imagine why that’s happening.”