By SHELLEY TERRY - sterry@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon
ASHTABULA —
City Police Officer William Felt won’t face criminal charges related to the June 12 shooting of 56-year-old Santo Sanabria Sr., said Ashtabula County Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Sartini in a press release Friday.
An Ashtabula County grand jury investigated the incident, which occurred at about 6:50 p.m. at Sanabria’s home at 1509 Prospect Road, according to police reports and Sartini. Felt and another officer were there in response to a domestic disturbance call involving Sanabria’s 27-year-old son and a female family member, according to police reports.
“The grand jury determined that there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges of any kind against Patrolman Felt and that the patrolman involved responded lawfully and in a manner consistent with established departmental policy,” Sartini said in the press release.
Police Chief Robert Stell has said Felt fired his .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun after the elder Sanabria grabbed him and tried to remove it. Felt regained control of the weapon and shot three times in the struggle, Stell said.
Sanabria was hospitalized for several weeks at Cleveland MetroHealth Hospital for his injuries. He also underwent surgery on the night of the shooting, according to family members and police reports.
His son Santo Sanabria Jr., who reportedly was intoxicated and fought that night, was subdued with a Taser device by police and fell to the ground and hit his head, police have said. He was treated at Ashtabula County Medical Center and released, and later was charged with resisting arrest and aggravated disorderly conduct, court records show.
As a result of the grand jury’s decision, the investigation into the matter by the Prosecutor’s Office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department regarding Felt’s conduct is concluded, Sartini said.
Now, that the grand jury’s investigation is complete, the question of possible charges against Santo Sanabria Sr. are under review by the Ashtabula City Solicitor’s Office, City Solicitor Michael Franklin said.
The Sanabria family could not be reached for comment.
