Officer Justified in Non-Fatal Shooting of Suspect in Chelmsford, DA Rules

CHELMSFORD, MA — Middlesex County district attorney Marian Ryan ruled Tuesday that a Tyngsboro police officer was justified in the use of deadly force after shooting a suspect who dragged A Chelmsford police sergeant several yards several yards with his vehicle on July 16.

Ryan announced that the officer was justified in the use of deadly force in the non-fatal shooting of suspect Michael Clark on July 16.

At approximately 8:36 p.m., a Tyngsborough police officer engaged in a chase of a suspect vehicle down Route 3 into Chelmsford, according to the DA's office. The suspect vehicle entered the Sully's parking lot on Graniteville Road, and when a Chelmsford sergeant approached the vehicle, it backed up and dragged the sergeant several yards, the DA's office said.

Fearing for the safety of the Chelmsford officer, the officer fired his weapon twice and struck Clark. Clark was med-flighted to Boston Medical Center. The Chelmsford officer sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Lowell General Hospital and was later released.