FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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May 5, 2007 State Attorney Steve Meadows has accepted the invitation of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to investigate an officer-involved-shooting which occurred on Friday night, May 4, 2007. The initial report charges that Michael Richard Claus, 23, of Moore Road in Marianna, fled, in a pick-up truck, from a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Deputy after being seen driving without headlights. Two deputies, in two patrol cars, pursued Claus in a high-speed chase until the pick-up struck a tree. Deputies reported that Claus got our of the truck with a pump shotgun and fired one round. A deputy returned fire and struck Claus. Claus was transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital where he remains in serious condition. Deputies reported recovering a shotgun, a handgun, a small amount of suspected methamphetamine, chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, a police scanner, a military-issue flak jacket, and night vision goggles. Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation. Though preliminary investigation indicates that the deputy fired according to law and departmental policy; it has been the policy of the State Attorney’s Office under Steve Meadows to refer all officer-involved shootings to a grand jury. |