Prosecutor: Knife-wielding man deputy killed at Buck Creek had drugs in system

The grand jury cited self-defense in its decision not to indict Deputy Justin Nawman in the June shooting.

Nawman is back at work, having completed his administrative leave, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.

INITIAL REPORT

A Clark County grand jury will not indict a deputy who shot a man at Buck Creek State Park in June, according to the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office.

Clark County Prosecutor Dan Driscoll said the grand jury found that the deputy “acted reasonably and that the shooting was justified.”

According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, deputy Justin Nawman shot and killed 29-year-old Michael Spencer after Spencer ran at Nawman with a knife.

BODY CAM RELEASED: Man shot, killed while running toward deputy with knife 

A statement previously released by the sheriff’s office says that Nawman requested backup when he saw Spencer, who had blood on his hands and neck, holding a knife. Nawman and other deputies approached Spencer and attempted to defuse the situation.

Body camera footage shows Spencer run at Nawman with a knife, and then shots are fired. The video also shows deputies and first responders try to save Spencer once he was shot.

After the incident, Nawman was placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.

The sheriff’s office released a statement on Wednesday that says Nawman was returned to full-duty.

The sheriff’s office will conduct their own internal investigation, which is standard procedure whenever a deputy fires their weapon in the line of duty.