Special Prosecutor Rules Two Columbia Police Officers Won’t Face Charges for Shooting Last Year

A special prosecutor has ruled that two Columbia police officers won’t face charges for the fatal shooting of a suspect at a gas station last May. Miller County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Winfrey ruled that the officers, Lieutenant Lance Bollinger and Sargeant Roger Schlude acted in self-defense in the incident. The two officers shot and killed 38-year-old James Sears III at the Petro-Mart Gas Station back on May 26th. They were attempting to arrest Sears as part of a drug investigation. Winfrey, who also had a warrant for a probation violation, refused to comply when officers told him to put his hands up. A pistol was found on Sears at the scene of the shooting. Winfrey was appointed as special prosecutor of the case in September by the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney’s office.