Richland officers cleared in fatal shootout

RICHLAND — The Benton County prosecutor has cleared four Richland police officers who killed a man in a shootout.

Prosecutor Andy Miller said Thursday the officers were justified in firing on 27-year-old James Dean Schultz on June 5 after he fired two shots at them from a stolen car.

Schultz was wanted at the time on arrest warrants accusing him of burglary and theft. An autopsy showed he had used methamphetamine.

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