Grand jury clears Elkhart officer in shooting death of Black Man

A grand jury Monday cleared Elkhart Police Cpl. Doug Ryback of any charges in connection with the shooting death of Stanley Creal, 50, who was killed Oct. 6 as police executed a search warrant. Ryback said he couldn't comment on the grand jury's decision, citing policies of the police department and a possible internal investigation, common practice in police shootings. Ryback's relief, however -- and that of several of his colleagues, who spent the day with him -- was evident after the jurors left the Elkhart Circuit Courtroom. Prosecutor Curtis Hill also said little about the case or the evidence, the presentation of which took about 51/2 hours Monday. Grand jurors heard from a forensic pathologist, state police detectives -- state police investigated the shooting -- and Elkhart police officers about the events of that night. Hill did say he believes Creal was unarmed at the time of the shooting, and said after the jury's decision, "There's the inference that there's a belief that (Ryback's) actions were justified." Hill's chief investigator, Bill Wargo, said Creal indeed was unarmed. "He made a movement which the officers felt put them in danger. (It) led them to believe he was going for a weapon. No weapon was found." After the shooting, authorities released a few details, saying officers went to Creal's apartment at 230 W. Jackson Blvd. They got there about 9:30 p.m. to serve a warrant in connection with an investigation into crack cocaine sales from apartment C. Officers forced entry into the apartment after knocking and announcing their presence, according to authorities. [more] and [more]