Off-Duty Police Officer Cleared In Fatal Bowling Alley Shooting
CLEVELAND (AP) - A county prosecutor says a grand jury has cleared an off-duty Cleveland police officer in a fatal shooting outside a bowling alley.
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien served as special prosecutor in Cuyahoga County while a grand jury reviewed the shooting of 21-year-old Thomas Yatsko by Sgt. Dean Graziolli in January 2018.
O'Brien's statement Thursday said Graziolli was working security at a Cleveland bowling alley when he removed Yatsko and another man for fighting. O'Brien says Yatsko returned later and punched Graziolli several times. He says Graziolli fired twice when Yatsko ignored warnings and moved toward him.
Yatsko's family sued Graziolli, the city of Cleveland and the bowling alley in federal court months later claiming Graziolli used excessive force and failed to provide medical attention. That lawsuit is pending.
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