Spokane cop cleared in shooting of suspect in January

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Spokane County officials have cleared a Spokane police officer who shot and killed a man during a call in January.

Prosecutor Larry Haskell on Wednesday announced that 35-year-old David Novak held a baseball bat and slammed it on his car, making sounds that police thought were gunshots.

Novak was shot by Officer Brandon Rankin.

The Spokesman-Review says Haskell’s decision was announced at a news conference attended by about 20 of Novak’s relatives, who denounced the decision.

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Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com