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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">600 E. Walnut Street
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Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">February 18, 2022</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Jeff Pitts
<br />Public Information Specialist
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.817.5049
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov
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<br />Toni Messina
<br />Communications and Outreach Supervisor
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7660
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones releases statement regarding Special Prosecutor's decision in an officer-involved shooting, May 26, 2021</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones released the following statement on Feb. 18, 2022, regarding the Special Prosecutor’s decision in an officer-involved shooting in the 2200 block of Stadium Boulevard on May 26, 2021.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"On Feb. 18, 2022 I received a copy of Miller County Prosecuting Attorney R. Benjamin Winfrey’s decision relating to events that occurred when Columbia Police officers attempted to arrest James Sears, III for outstanding arrest warrants for a felony probation violation. In that encounter, officers discharged their firearms resulting in Mr. Sears’ death from gunshot wounds.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following standard protocol, immediately after the event investigations were conducted by the Department’s Internal Affairs Unit and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Mr. Winfrey was appointed special prosecutor at the request of Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Knight. This, too, is a standard practice to avoid conflicts of interest.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In his letter addressed to Missouri State Highway Patrol investigators, Special Prosecutor Winfrey states that he does not intend to file any criminal charges against the officers involved in the shooting. In his words:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">‘Based upon the provided facts and Missouri law, it is my opinion that the officers’ conduct does not constitute a criminal offense because a jury will conclude their use of force was lawful self-defense. Under the rules of ethics, a prosecutor should not commence criminal charges if there is insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.’</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now that this phase of the review has concluded, we will work toward resolution of the Department’s Internal Affairs investigation."</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Case number 2021-004890</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />Previous Press Release(s):</span></p>
<p><strong>Columbia Police release additional information regarding officer involved shooting in the 2200 block of Stadium Blvd., May 26</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=7506"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=7506</span></a></p></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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