A Franklin County Grand Jury declined to charge the Columbus police officers who shot and killed a man in 2023.
Jamie Overstreet led police on a five-mile chase through Columbus's south side before police shot and killed him on August 24, 2023.
The Franklin County Prosecutor's office said in a statement Overstreet had violated a protection order the day he was killed. Overstreet led police on a car chase that ended when his vehicle became disabled on Columbus's south side.
"A grand jury only decides whether or not a crime has been committed. In this case, the grand jury also looked at whether any degree of unlawful criminal homicide occurred," the statement said.
The unnamed officers allege Overstreet had a gun before they shot him.
Police said the incident started on Rendezvous Lane near Lockbourne Road. Police spotted Overstreet leaving the area in a vehicle and tried pulling him over. Overstreet didn't stop and fled the area.
Police said during the search for Overstreet, the suspect had allegedly hit another car with his vehicle. A Columbus police helicopter located him.
Police said Overstreet's car later became disabled on Marion Drive North in south Columbus. Overstreet exited the car and ran away, but police later found the suspect and chased him.
Police said Overstreet pulled out a gun and one of the officers fired five rounds, hitting Overstreet once in the back. He later died at a hospital.
Attorney Tom Monah, who represents the Overstreet family in a federal civil lawsuit, said in a statement that they are still fighting for justice for Overstreet.
"We still have a case against the officer that shot Mr. Overstreet and the officer that did not intervene. This may not be a criminal case, but it is a civil case," Monah said.
Columbus Fraternal Order of Police President Brian Steel told WOSU he was delighted with the grand jury decision.
"This grand jury was done how they're supposed to be done. The officer was afforded the right to testify as a witness for the state. A defensive expert testified... which is the standard used in deadly force incidents," Steel said.
Steel criticized other recent grand jury decisions indicting police officers like Blendon Township Police Officer Connor Grubb and Franklin County Sheriffs SWAT Deputy Jason Meade. He said even if this case didn't turn out how the family had hoped, it still provided justice.
"In my opinion, justice is not an outcome. Justice is a process. As long as a process goes through a due process, unmolested by outside forces, by political whims, then that is justice," Steel said.
