Special prosecutor to handle Muncie fatal police shooting
MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - A Delaware County judge has appointed a special prosecutor to determine if a Muncie police officer was justified in the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old man.
The (Muncie) Star Press reports (http://tspne.ws/29XZzz7 ) that former Clay County prosecutor David Thomas was appointed special prosecutor Thursday in the case of the death of Storm Allen Smith. Smith was shot to death during a struggle with an officer April 15. The move comes after Delaware County Jeffrey Arnold filed court documents Thursday disqualifying himself from the case.
Arnold said two members of his staff were related to Smith and attended his funeral. Arnold also says he is friends with another member of Smith's family. Arnolds says those relationship could create an appearance of impropriety if his staff handled the case.
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Information from: The Star Press, http://www.thestarpress.com