Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre has ruled that Manitowoc Police Officer Fielder Clark’s shooting of Bruce A. Smith last September was justified and lawful. On the morning of September 16th officers and firefighters responded to an activated fire alarm at the Northwinds apartment complex on South 35th Street. A firefighter reported that he saw a suspicious person who was reportedly acting strangely and sweating profusely. Officer Clark followed him and recognized it was Smith. Smith lunged at Clark with a lighter, Officer Clark then hit him with a stun gun having no effect. Smith then came back at Officer Clark again, this time with a metal object. Clark shot Smith in the chest and abdomen until he fell. The object turned out to be a metal paint scraper. Clark stated that he thought it was a knife and he was afraid for himself and the people evacuating the apartment building behind them.
As part of her ruling, LaBre wrote “Officer Clark’s split-second decision to use deadly force, under those circumstances, appears consistent with his training and experience…Officer Clark had used verbal commands and a Taser with no effect. Despite Officer Clark’s efforts, he was faced with an individual who was coming towards him armed with a bladed object that appeared to be a knife.”
Methamphetamine and amphetamine were found in Smith’s system. Officer Clark was on paid administrative leave during the investigation.
