No civil rights charges in shooting of Minneapolis black man

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota's U.S. attorney today declined to file civil-rights charges against two Minneapolis police officers in the November death of a black man that sparked weeks of protests.

Andrew Luger said in a news release that there's insufficient evidence to support charges against Officers Mark Ringgenberg and Dustin Schwarze.

Jamar Clark, 24, was shot once in the head Nov. 15 and died a day later.

A key issue was whether or not Clark was handcuffed when he was shot. Several witnesses said he was; police said he was not. The circumstances of the case set off weeks of protests in the city, including an 18-day tent encampment outside the police department's 4th Precinct on the north side.

The confrontation that led to Clark's death began when paramedics called police saying the man was interfering with their efforts to treat an assault victim.

According to an investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Clark refused orders to take his hands out of his pockets. The officers tried to handcuff him but failed. Ringgenberg wrestled Clark to the ground but wound up on his back atop Clark and felt Clark's hand on his weapon, according to the investigation.

Schwarze then shot Clark in an encounter that lasted barely more than a minute from the time the officers first arrived.