Trial date set for Pike County officer-involved shooting

WAVERLY - A trial date of Nov. 28 was set for Joel Jenkins officer-involved shooting case out of Pike County, according to the Attorney General’s office.

Jenkins, who was fired from his position with the Pike County Sheriff’s Office then reinstated, was indicted by a grand jury in December on charges of murder and reckless homicide. The charges stem from death of 26-year-old Robert Rooker after a March 28, 2015 high-speed chase through Pike County.

A backup date for the trial was set for Jan. 9, according to a spokesperson from Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office, who is handling the prosecution of the cases.

Pretrial hearings for a second case involving Jenkins were also set for Nov. 28 and Jan. 9.

In the second case, Jenkins is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide and tampering with evidence in connection with his 40-year-old neighbor Jason Brady's shooting death on Dec. 3, 2015. Jenkins told officers a gun misfired in his home.

Jenkins and the Pike County Sheriff’s Office are also facing a federal lawsuit based on an alleged violation of civil rights and a wrongful death civil lawsuit. The cases were filed by a Columbus attorney on behalf of the families of Brady and Rooker.