A Williams County grand jury has decided not to indict Edon Police Chief Tom Szymczak for his role in the death of a Montpelier area man.
The grand jury convened Nov. 2 and were presented with evidence from prosecutors with the Ohio Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Section. The evidence came from the findings of the BCI’s investigation into the officer-involved shooting death of John Anderson.
Upon consideration of the findings, members of the grand jury did not return an indictment. BCI’s investigation into the incident will now close, the Attorney General’s office stated.
Szymczak has been on administrative leave since the June 16 incident.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to request for a well-being check on Anderson who lived on U.S. 20 near CR 7. An area health care facility had been in contact with him and believed he intended to harm himself.
Deputies were assisted by several other officers from local departments including Szymczak. The victim brandished what appeared to be an AR-15-style rifle.
Around 10:52, about 20 minutes after the deputies first arrived, medical response teams went to the scene after Johnson had been fatally shot by an officer. The BCI investigation found that to be Szymczak.
James Pruitt may be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com