CLEVELAND — A veteran officer of the Cleveland Police Department for more than 20 years will not face any charges in a shooting that killed a 21-year-old man outside of the Corner Alley Bar in University Circle.
In a statement, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, who served as a special prosecutor in the case, said a Cuyahoga County grand jury heard evidence on June 4 in the police shooting case over a two-day period and decided not to indict Sergeant Dean Graziolli.
During the grand jury's deliberations, prosecutors requested that all relevant instructions on Use of Deadly Force by officers be given by a judge of the court, according to the statement.
On Jan. 13, 2018, Thomas Yatsko was shot and killed by Graziolli, who was off-duty as a police officer and working as a security officer at Corner Alley Bar in University Circle.
On the day of the shooting, witnesses said two young men started fighting inside the bar when Graziolli escorted the two men outside. A short time later, one of the men returned to the bar, got involved in a confrontation with Graziolli and began assaulting him, according to a police report.
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Graziolli was placed on paid administrative leave for three days following Yatsko's death. He currently remains on administrative restricted duty. Cleveland police officials said they will now conduct an internal administrative review of the incident.
According to disciplinary files obtained by News 5, Graziolli was convicted several years ago for ripping off taxpayers when he lied on his timecards. He was appointed to the position of a patrol officer on Jan. 6, 1992 and later promoted to sergeant on Dec. 6, 2002. He was issued a written reprimand in 2008 after he engaged in improper procedures while investigating use of non-deadly force by a member.
According to the lawsuit filed by Yatsko's mother and father, Melissa Yatsko and Darian Allen, in April 2018, Graziolli was unprovoked and approached Yatsko in an "aggressive and belligerent manner, swore at him and told him to leave the area." Yatsko reportedly replied that he was trying to find a ride home. At some point after that, Graziolli pulled out his weapon and a confrontation followed, according to the lawsuit. It also states that Yatsko did not have a weapon on him.
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