EX-AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER WON’T FACE CHARGES IN SHOOTING

Grand jury declines to indict ex-officer in Sept. 16 shooting.

An Austin police officer who resigned just as he was set to appear at a disciplinary hearing in connection with an officer-involved shooting in March will not face any criminal charges for the incident, a grand jury decided Thursday.

Former Austin police officer Matthew Michaelson resigned from the Police Department on Sept. 16, the same day he was expected to go before a disciplinary board for his actions in the shooting.

Michaelson opened fire on William Mann during a March 20 incident in North Austin, shooting a shotgun at Mann at least three times.

Mann recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in the shooting and eventually was charged with aggravated assault and evading arrest in the incident.

Because the criminal case against Mann is ongoing, the district attorney’s office did not release any new details about the shooting. The office typically releases full accounts of police shootings after a grand jury decides to not charge the officer.

Austin police cannot release the results of the department’s internal investigation into the shooting because state law prevents its release unless the officer is disciplined.

A Travis County grand jury spent six hours reviewing evidence and hearing testimony from five witnesses before reaching its decision, according to the Travis County district attorney’s office.

Mann was in the Travis County Jail on Thursday. His charges stem from an incident that began near the intersection of Rundberg Lane and Interstate 35 in North Austin.

According to police, Mann threatened people with knives. When confronted by officers he refused commands, eluded officers for two hours and at one point ran across I-35, police have said.

Michaelson shot Mann when Mann refused to drop the knives, police said.