Special prosecutor to review police conduct

LANCASTER – A file containing police reports and body camera video of a man's suicide during a police standoff Feb. 20 is being sent to a special prosecutor, Fairfield County Prosecutor Gregg Marx announced Thursday.

Marx recused himself from the investigation into the conduct of more than 10 local law enforcement officers during the incident involving 29-year-old Shane Clark two weeks ago.

"We felt it important that an independent agency review the conduct of our law enforcement," Marx said Thursday morning, adding he thinks the officers' work was exemplary in dealing with Clark.

Marx said Delaware County Prosecutor Carol O'Brien agreed to take the investigation, and the file is in the mail to her office.

The investigation is standard protocol into cases such as Clark's, who shot himself after a long standoff with police near Sells Road and East Main Street.

Major Crimes Unit Commander Eric Brown previously said officers negotiated with Clark for about 45 minutes around 2:45 a.m. Feb. 20. Brown said Clark made multiple threats before shooting himself.

The officers used "nonlethal force" by firing bean-bag rounds in an effort to disarm Clark of a handgun he was holding, Brown said.

He also said he doesn't think officers "could have done anything differently to prevent this outcome."

Clark was taken to Fairfield Medical Center and then flown to Grant Medical Center, where he died hours later.

While police were told that Clark was ready for an "armed confrontation with law enforcement," Brown said he never pointed a weapon at officers during negotiations.

There were multiple agencies assisting in Clark's apprehension in addition to the Major Crimes Unit, including the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office, the Lancaster Police Department and the Street Crime Reduction and Apprehension Program team.

Marx said the investigation could take some time, but it will be up to O'Brien's office.

"It could take a year, but it could be much faster than that," he said.

During the investigation, all involved officers will remain on duty.

sroush@lancastereaglegazette.com

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