Joseph Nagle

Date: 6/16/2022          Location: Salem Township, MI         FACTORS (1,2,3,8,12,14,15,19)      

Name: Joseph Maverick Nagle                                 

Criminal History/Involved: Unknown. / Yes, Nagle was suspected to be driving while under the influence of alcohol.  

Mental Illness: None stated but “Nagle had been through some tough times, particularly when his father died last year. The two were close and it “crushed” Nagle.”

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / Yes, Nagle was suspected to be impaired by alcohol.

Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/22

Officer(s) involved: Allegan County Sheriff’s deputy                                                          

What prompted the initial contact with police? At around 10 p.m. on June 16, 2022, an Allegan County Sheriff’s deputy pulled over a vehicle with an expired registration operated by Joseph Nagle. Suspecting Nagle was driving while under the influence of alcohol, the deputy had Nagle perform sobriety tests. When Nagle failed the tests, the deputy told Nagle that he was under arrest.

Actions taken by subject towards police: Compliant with the deputy during the sobriety tests, Nagle started fighting with the deputy upon being told he was under arrest  

Reactions by the police: Alone in the street in the dark of night and being attacked by Nagle, the deputy feared for his life and shot Nagle one time in the chest killing him. The deputy was injured during the fight and treated at the hospital.

Outcome of investigation into the fatal police incident: The shooting is being investigated by the Michigan State Police.

What could the subject have done that day to still be alive today? Nagle could still be alive if he: did not drive a vehicle with an expired registration; did not drive a vehicle while he was under the influence of alcohol; complied and did not fight with the deputy.

Miscellaneous: Nagle was an undefeated all-state wrestling champion and described as a “big, gentle giant” and “strong and a very powerful guy.”

Justified Use of Deadly Force? YES, the deputy was alone, at night and in the roadway being attacked by a large man who was skilling in fighting from his years as wrestler and appeared to be in an altered state of mind from alcohol. Those facts combined led the deputy to reasonably fear for his life and justifiably use deadly force to defend himself.