Grand jury clears Hancock County deputy in 2022 shooting

A Hancock County grand jury has cleared a Hancock County deputy involved in a shooting in December 2022.

The state Attorney General issued a statement Monday morning announcing the grand jury found that there was “no criminal conduct on behalf of the officer involved.”

The deputy has been identified in court documents as Michael Chase Blackwell.

According to a press release from MBI on December 10, 2022, Blackwell responded to a burglary call in the 28000 block of Highway 603 in the Kiln. When deputies arrived, a man was at the unoccupied home and during the confrontation, Blackwell shot and killed the man, identified as Isaiah Winkley of Georgia.

As a result of the grand jury’s findings, no further action will be taken, according to the AG’s office and the investigation is closed.

Winkley’s family has filed a civil suit claiming wrongful death and naming Hancock County, Sheriff Ricky Adam and Blackwell as defendants.