DA Clears Modesto Police In Fatal Spatula Shooting
MODESTO, Calif. (AP) -- Prosecutors will not be filing criminal charges against two Modesto police officers who shot and killed a man they say lunged at them with a metal spatula.
The Modesto Bee reports that Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager announced Friday that the shooting of 45-year-old Francisco Moran by officers Joseph Lamantia and Robert Laxton was what she termed "justified under the provisions of California law."
In a letter to Police Chief Mike Harden, Fladager described the matter as "now closed."
The fatal shooting occurred last September after family members called police and reported that Moran was drunk, belligerent and armed with a knife.
Police say after the officers shot Moran with a Taser stun gun to no effect, he lunged at them while reaching for a shiny metal object.
The officers later discovered the object was a 12-inch long spatula.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
