Four Richland police officers who fired 23 shots at a suspected car thief were cleared of wrong-doing in the June 5 fatal shooting, officials announced today.
James Dean Schultz, 27, was killed after police say he pulled a gun from his waistband and fired twice at the officers during the 6:30 a.m. traffic stop on Cottonwood Drive.
The four people in the car with Schultz have told the Herald they never saw Schultz with a gun and never heard shots fired inside the car.
However, Richland Police Chief Chris Skinner has said the officers’ statements were corroborated by two shell casings and two guns found inside the car.
Schultz died from multiple gunshot wounds, autopsy results showed. He was high on meth at the time, said Benton County Prosecutor Andy Miller.
Skinner said the officers had reason to believe there was a threat to themselves and others and "acted appropriately."
"There was very little that could have been done differently," he said.
The newly-created Tri-City Special Investigation Unit was activated to investigate the shooting. The SIU reports were then forwarded to Miller for review.
The four officers who fired their weapons, Sgt. Tony Striefel, Cpls. Bryce Henry and Hyrum Stohel, and Officer Jon Ladines, were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard practice after an officer-involved shooting.
They have all since returned to duty.
At the time of the shooting, officers were conducting a high-risk traffic stop with gun drawn after getting a call about a suspicious person in the 1400 block of Alice Street.
The driver had been removed from the car when Schultz, who was in the backseat, climbed into the driver’s seat and attempted to start the car.
Officers said they opened fire when Schultz pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired at them, Skinner said.
For the full story, see Friday’s Herald and tricityherald.com.
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