CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The Bradley County grand jury declined this week to indict Cleveland City Councilman George Poe in connection with a May incident in which he fired a handgun at a car containing burglary suspects.
Mr. Poe said Tuesday he expected the news.
“I testified to the grand jury, which is not an everyday occurrence,” he said. “Out in the hall, someone who works for the district attorney indicated it was over. But I have no official notification.”
Charges of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment against Mr. Poe were referred to the grand jury last year.
Mr. Poe, 65, said he shot at a Toyota Avalon when the driver tried to run over him after stealing his son’s lawnmower on May 22, 2009.
“I did not think I was guilty of anything but protecting my own life,” Mr. Poe said.
Later, Mr. Poe spotted the driver in another area of Cleveland and alerted police. Randall Brogdon was arrested on charges of aggravated burglary.
Tenth Judicial District Attorney Steve Bebb recused himself from prosecuting the case, handing it over to Russell Johnson in the 9th District in Kingston, Tenn.
“This effectively ends the case, as far as I am concerned,” Mr. Johnson said Tuesday.
“Technically, you could bring the case back, but our office won’t do that,” he said. “I have already sent the closure letter to the TBI.”