Joseph Mensah testifies in trial over teen's shooting

Detective Joseph Mensah testified in a federal trial regarding the shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole, which occurred five years ago. Mensah, now a detective with the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department, previously served with the Wauwatosa Police Department. He fatally shot Cole after a foot chase at the Mayfair Mall on February 2, 2020. During the trial, Mensah provided details about the incident, stating he responded to reports of a disturbance at the mall. He arrived in an unmarked car and did not announce his presence on the police radio. This has been criticized as a lack of procedure. Mensah disputed another officer's account, claiming Cole aimed a gun at him at the time of the shooting, while the other officer testified that Cole was on the ground and not moving. The trial has highlighted conflicting testimonies from various officers who responded to the incident. Mensah emphasized his experience, claiming he had more tactical knowledge than the officer who disagreed with him. He described the situation as chaotic and struggled to recall specific details repeatedly throughout his testimony. Mensah responded to a shot fired by Cole, which turned out to be a self-inflicted wound. He stated he did not initially see who fired the shot and felt compelled to use deadly force when he perceived a threat from Cole. He faced scrutiny over some of his claims not being included in police reports. Witnesses, including a mall security guard, confirmed parts of the chase but differed on whether Cole pointed a gun at anyone. The defense has argued that the use of force by Mensah was justified based on the circumstances. The trial continues, with closing arguments expected soon.