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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – The former Louisville Metro Police officer who fired pepper balls to disperse crowds leading to the death of a west Louisville restaurant owner will not face prison time.

On Monday, a judge said Katie Crews would serve probation time for her charge of deprivation of rights under color of law which she pleaded guilty to in October.

She will serve two years of probation, 200 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

“As in this case, our office will work diligently with our federal and local law enforcement partners to ensure the citizens of the Western District are protected from the use of excessive force by officers sworn to protect them,” U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky said in a release.

Prosecutors previously argued Crews’ actions were excessive the night of David “YaYa” McAtee’s death in June 2020, but was done with a “legitimate law enforcement purpose.”

Court documents said Crews and other officers were given orders to disperse crowds who had gathered during summer protests following the death of Breonna Taylor.

>>FULL COVERAGE: The Breonna Taylor Case

McAtee’s niece, Machelle McAtee, had refused to get back inside the restaurant during an enacted curfew, leading to verbal arguments and eventual pepper balls being fired.

David McAtee pulled Machelle out of the doorway, and documents stated he took a gun and fired several shots outside the door.

Crews, along with another LMPD officer and two National Guard soldiers returned fire. McAtee was hit by one of the National Guard soldier’s bullets, which led to his death.

A federal investigation into Crews was started by the FBI once she was cleared of all state charges.

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