GRAND JURY CLEARS OFFICER WHO SHOT, KILLED DRUG SUSPECT

PARKERSBURG (AP) -- A Wood County grand jury has cleared a county sheriff's
captain of wrongdoing in the shooting death of a suspected drug dealer.

Capt. Rick Woodyard shot Bryan Paul Causey on Dec. 18 after officers tried
to purchase methamphetamine from the 33-year-old South Charleston man.

Causey was shot during a chase as he tried to get his pickup out of a
ditch. Woodyard's shot hit Causey in the arm, but the bullet fragmented and
a piece struck his heart.

After reviewing the case, the grand jury found Thursday that the shooting
was necessary and appropriate to protect other law enforcement officers.