A POLICE officer who shot a suspect has no case to answer for misconduct because the gun was fired accidentally, despite concerns from a watchdog.
The officer 'accidentally' discharged the gun into the leg of Aaron Humphries, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) revealed.
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Although the IOPC found there was a case to answer for misconduct, West Mercia's own review decided there was 'no case to answer' because the officer's firearm was discharged accidentally.
Humphries, who had an imitation submachine gun, was shot in the leg while surrounded by armed officers in Ronkswood Hill in Worcester at around 9am on October 2.
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Video footage of Humphries falling to the ground after he was shot was shared on social media.
An IOPC spokesman said: "At the end of our investigation, we concluded the officer who fired their weapon had a case to answer for misconduct for the unintentional discharge of their firearm.
"Misconduct proceedings are a matter for West Mercia Police. We will look to publish an investigation summary in due course.”
Deputy Chief Constable Julian Moss said: “The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) enquiries found that we needed to consider whether the officer’s actions amounted to misconduct.
"As such a misconduct meeting was held. The meeting fully reviewed all of the evidence and it was determined that there was no misconduct, the firearm was accidentally discharged. We stand by this finding and are satisfied that due process has been followed.”
We have previously reported how the 31-year-old defendant of Wetherfield Road, Birmingham, was growing 33 cannabis plants at his ex-partner's tanning salon in Dines Green.
The father-of-two admitted possession of the imitation MP5K submachine gun at a time he was committing another offence - criminal damage at his ex-partner's home in Dines Green.
He further admitted criminal damage - destroying property without lawful excuse - on the same date, including windows, a door and a Ring Doorbell belonging to Platform Housing.
Humphries was also convicted of the production of cannabis at a commercial unit in Worcester following a hearing at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on October 16.
Humphries arrived at his ex-partner's home in his BMW and rang the doorbell at her address in Gower Close, Dines Green.
Video footage was played from a Ring doorbell which showed him ringing the bell repeatedly before he kicked the camera, smashing it.
A homemade dumbbell was used to smash the windows of the house and the front door, causing £1,400 damage.
Humphries left, parking his BMW in Ronkswood Hill and was seen by a passer-by inside the car with what looked like a two feet long gun on his lap.
After he was shot in the leg, he was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and also arrested.
Judge Martin Jackson sentenced Humphries to 20 months in prison suspended for two years and placed him under the supervision of the probation service, ordering him to complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He was also ordered to pay £1,400 in compensation to Platform Housing for the damage.
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