No criminal charges in North Manchester police action shooting

A North Manchester police officer has been cleared of any charges after fatally shooting a man during a traffic stop.

After a month-long investigation, investigators with the Indiana State Police Department decided Officer Parker Stouffer was justified to use deadly force.

Stouffer pulled over a pickup truck for a "traffic infraction" around 6 p.m on Mar. 6. North Manchester Police Chief Jim Kirk said the driver, 40-year-old Michael Kline failed to use a seatbelt and a passenger was not wearing a seatbelt.

The vehicle pulled into the parking lot of The Eel River Inn on State Road 114 near S.R. 13. Kline had two passengers in the car at the time.

Stouffer's body cam video was covered by a coat at the time but another officer camera captures parts of the fatal shooting.

The officers asked everyone to get out of the vehicle so to allow a K-9 officer to search the truck.

As Kline got out, he reportedly pulled a gun on the officers. An officer can be heard yelling "he's got a gun" then several shots were fired.

Kline died at the scene.{{file|t=Xlqi_1524177165}}