Trumbull deputy cleared of wrongdoing in summer fatal shooting

WARREN — The Trumbull County Prosecutor's office issued a press release today clearing a deputy of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of an elderly man at the man's home on Herner Mills Road in Southington on July 14.

Charles D. Crandall, 76, died in an exchange of gunfire with deputies.

Deputies responded to his house at 12:07 p.m. for a 911 call indicating he had fired his gun at his neighbor.

A neighbor told police when he arrived at Crandall's house to take him to the bank and grocery store, Crandall started firing a gun at him, hitting his truck.

A short time after deputies arrived, Crandall started firing at them, and the deputies fired back, killing him, Sheriff Thomas Altiere said. The deputies were not injured, nor were two Braceville Township police officers, who arrived about the same time as the deputies.

Crandall had lived at 2625 Phalanx Mills Herner Road since at least 2005 and apparently had medical problems.

A sheriff’s report from February 2005 said the medical staff at St. Joseph Warren Hospital called the sheriff’s office to ask that deputies check on Crandall’s welfare and bring him back to the hospital.