Clark County deputy shooting of news photographer heads to grand jury

The investigation into a Clark County deputy shooting of a news photographer will be presented to a grand jury.

The Ohio Attorney’s General’s office declined in an email to say when the case will be presented.

“This matter is still pending a presentation to the grand jury,” AG’s spokeswoman Jill Del Greco said. “Because grand jury hearings are secret, we wouldn’t be able to discuss when the hearing will occur — we’d only be able to confirm the outcome after it has happened.”

Andrew Grimm, a photographer for the New Carlisle News, was shot by Deputy Jacob Shaw in September.

The deputy was performing a traffic stop on North Main Street in New Carlisle. Grimm had pulled over at the scene and was getting his camera out of his car when he was shot. According to Shaw's body camera video obtained by the Springfield News-Sun, the deputy can be heard saying he believed Grimm's camera was a weapon.

Grimm was taken to Miami Valley Hospital, where he was treated for his injury and released.

Shaw has since returned to duty, working in the Clark County Jail.

Grimm, his wife and the other co-owners of the New Carlisle News have sued Clark County, Shaw and the city of New Carlisle in federal court seeking compensation for lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering.

READ MORE: Photographer shot by Clark County deputy claims lost wages, suffering

The lawsuit also alleges KBA News LLC, which publishes the New Carlisle News, has lost money due to the shooting and that New Carlisle and the sheriff’s office have retaliated against the business.

“Since the shooting of Andy, the city of New Carlisle and the Clark County Sheriff’s office have withheld and/or delayed providing KBA News LLC information regarding the community,” the suit says.

So far no response has been filed by the defendants, according to federal court records. Two attorneys, Columbus-based Andrew Yosowitz and Dayton-based Lynnette Dinkler, recently entered an appearance for the defendants.

“We cannot comment regarding claims against Deputy Shaw because there is an ongoing investigation,” a statement released by the attorneys says. “Clark County and the city of New Carlisle deny all claims against them.”

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The attorneys are representing all the defendants listed in the lawsuit, Yosowitz said.

The attorneys were hired by the county’s insurance agent, Clark County Civil Chief Attorney Andrew Pickering said. The prosecutor’s office is currently not involved in the lawsuit, he said, nor the investigation into Shaw.

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