No charges against officer

Aurora police officers were justified in shooting an armed man who fired at officers from the rear seat of a taxi cab, and no officer will face criminal charges in the April incident.

On April 9, Tyrell Tyrone Jones was shot multiple times while he was in the back seat of a Metro Taxi cab, which had stopped for a red light at the intersection of Chambers and Smith roads, according to a review of the shooting by the Adams County District Attorney’s Office.

The taxi driver, who was allegedly being threatened by an armed Jones, had jumped out of the cab when it stopped for the light and ran for safety, according to the review.

Officers, who had been following the taxi, approached the stopped vehicle on foot. Jones fired a single shot from a 9mm handgun at the approaching officers, and fire was returned, the 18-page review said.

Police had been following Jones, a domestic violence suspect, after he had shot at his wife the day before. Investigators had lured Jones to a meeting at the Crosslands Motel, where they planned to safely take him into custody, but he didn’t get out of the cab, which then took off. Officers followed in unmarked cars.

Officer Michael Dieck, a six-year veteran of the Aurora Police Department and a tactical team member for five years, fired his M4 rifle seven times at Jones, according to the report. Jones’ 9mm handgun was recovered from the back seat of the taxi. The single-round fired from the taxi went through the rear door and hit a pickup truck, which was driven by officers who were trailing Jones in the cab.

“As the situation quickly unfolded, there was no time to use less lethal devices prior to the shooting,” the review said. “Officer Dieck heard what he knew to be a gunshot.” Dieck then heard another officer yell: “He’s got a gun! He’s got a gun!”

Dieck fired his rifle into the rear of the taxi, shattering a window. Dieck then had a “better” view of Jones, who was in the back seat with a gun pointed directly at Dieck, the review said.

“Officer Dieck then fired several additional rounds at Mr. Jones until he was no longer a threat.”

On the day of the shooting, Jones was taken to a local hospital and treated for gunshot wounds. He was released from the hospital after several surgeries, and has been charged with seven counts of attempted murder, three counts of kidnapping, aggravated robbery, two counts of first-degree assault, second-degree assault, menacing and possession of a weapon by a previous offender.

No criminal charges will be filed against Dieck, the review concludes.