*** MEDIA ADVISORY *** November 23, 2004                                                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT:  Curtis Hill 296-1888 Grand Jury Probe: Police Action Shooting              The Elkhart Circuit Court Grand Jury convened on Monday, November 22, 2004 to review the facts and circumstances surrounding the October 6, 2004 shooting death of Stanley Creal, age 50, formerly of Gary, Indiana.  Creal had been fatally wounded following the execution of a search warrant by the Elkhart Police Department at 230 West Jackson Boulevard, Apt. C.  According to investigation reports submitted to the Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office by the Indiana State Police, Creal was shot once in the chest by Corporal Doug Ryback of the Elkhart Police Department after failing to comply with police efforts to secure the scene.  According to Indiana State Police investigation, Creal closed a bedroom door inside the apartment, attempting to evade the police search.  Police officers were able to force open the door and observed Creal to reach toward his right pocket with his right hand as though he were reaching for an object.  According to Indiana State Police investigators, Ryback and the other officer believed Creal was reaching for a firearm and Ryback fired his service weapon one time hitting Creal in the chest.  Although the Indiana State Police did not recover a weapon from Creal’s pocket, they did recover crack-cocaine in that pocket.The investigation of the Indiana State Police was turned over to the Grand Jury during Monday’s session and upon the conclusion of the Grand Jury’s deliberations, the Grand Jury reported to Elkhart Circuit Court Judge Terry C. Shewmaker that no criminal chargers were warranted.“On August 6th, the Elkhart Police Department acted properly in pursuing drug dealers within the City of Elkhart.  They secured a valid search warrant based upon intelligence of illegal drug activity at the 230 West Jackson Boulevard, Apt. C location and organized the execution of the search warrant in a manner that is designed for the safety of the officers as well as any possible occupants of the location.  The officers did their job and Stanley Creal made a fatal error in failing to heed police warnings by taking an action that was perceived to be a threat to the safety of police officers.  His error proved fatal”, said Prosecuting Attorney Curtis T. Hill, Jr.