The Oregon Department of Justice will take over the shooting investigation into two officers with the Milwaukie Police Department who critically injured an unarmed man last month.
On Sept. 30, officers Sgt. Eduardo Sanchez and Officer Kwasean Akom – shot Hunter Newton, 21, who remains in critical condition.
“To date, the investigation of the incident has been led by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office in collaboration and consultation with the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office,” Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth wrote to the DOJ Monday.
“By this letter I am formally requesting that the Criminal Justice Division of the Oregon Department of Justice handle the formal review of the officers’ use of force.”
Related: Man injured in Milwaukie police shooting was unarmed, prosecutors say
Wentworth declined to say more about why he asked the state agency to step in and take over the shooting investigation.
Newton was pulled over at 12:55 a.m. on Sept. 30, and found to be driving on a suspended drivers license, a misdemeanor.
Related: Milwaukie police shoot, injure man outside Taco Bell
Newton was shot inside his car in the parking lot of a Taco Bell, according to video of the incident. Officers directed him to exit his vehicle and Newton refused, according to police. Newton was not armed.
The officers were wearing body camera footage, which has been turned over to Clackamas County’s major crimes team.
Attorneys for Newton’s family did not respond to a request for comment.
