BLENDON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Blendon Township trustees voted unanimously to reinstate Officer Connor Grubb to active duty following his acquittal in a 2023 fatal shooting, WOSU reported.
Grubb had been placed on paid administrative leave since November, shortly after a jury found him not guilty of murder and related charges in the shooting death Ta’Kiya Young, suspected of shoplifting and driving her car into Grubb.
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Body camera footage shows Young’s car moving forward and appearing to strike Grubb before he fired through the windshield.
Trustee April Zobel acknowledged community division over the decision and described the reinstatement as “difficult,” but said it aligned with legal standards and township policy, according to the report.
Grubb must complete a fitness-for-duty evaluation and any required recertifications before returning to work. Township officials said plans are in place to enhance police training beyond state requirements.