Grand jury refuses to charge laid-off cop

CLEVELAND (AP) -- A grand jury has decided against charging a laid-off police officer in the on-duty shooting death of a fleeing unarmed man.
Last month the city prosecutor filed reckless-homicide charges against former patrolman Daniel Jopek after ruling that Jopek's shooting of 26-year-old Stanley Strnad was unjustified.
However, a grand jury decided Thursday against returning an indictment against Jopek. His lawyer, Pat D'Angelo, called the decision a "complete vindication."
Jopek, 33, a three-year veteran who was among the 250 officers laid off in January, said he fired his gun at Strnad last Nov. 14 following a foot chase because he thought Strnad was reaching for a gun at his waist.
The city prosecutor, Anthony Jordan, said the angles of the bullet wounds contradicted Jopek's version of events.
Strnad, who didn't have a weapon, was shot in the back and arm.