Crime & Courts

Review: No criminal charges for Juneau police officer involved in shooting

JUNEAU — A Juneau police officer was legally justified when he shot a man in August, a review by the state Office of Special Prosecutions has determined.

In a letter to the Juneau police chief summarizing the analysis, Jack McKenna, chief assistant attorney general in the Office of Special Prosecutions, said the state will not bring criminal charges against Officer Thomas McGrann.

McKenna said the conclusion was based on findings of an investigation that involved the Juneau Police Department, state Department of Public Safety and the Seattle Police Department.

The suspect, Christopher Netling, was taken to Seattle for treatment after the shooting.

McGrann's action "was reasonably necessary under the circumstances to respond to the threat of death or serious physical injury posed by Mr. Netling," the summary states.

Netling faces assault charges, police said. A message seeking comment was left for his attorney.

The letter was provided by the Department of Law Monday, after Juneau police last week announced McGrann had returned to full duty along with Officer Hannah Malone, who responded with him to a report of a physical dispute Aug. 4.

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According to the summary, a woman called 911 for help removing Netling from her vehicle. She said he had put her in a choke hold, nearly causing her to lose consciousness, and said he carried knives.

During a struggle with officers, Malone said Netling had a knife, the summary states. She backed up but a parked car limited her movement, and she fired a stun gun "with no apparent effect," according to the summary.

McGrann, who had been in the backseat trying to remove Netling from the vehicle, put his gun to Netling’s neck and told him to drop the weapon, according to the summary. When Netling did not respond and looked in Malone’s direction, McGrann fired two shots, the summary states.

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