Kleine says there are no charges against the Omaha officer who killed a man

Douglas County Prosecutor Don Kleine announced Thursday that his office will not file charges against a police officer who shot and killed an unarmed man while executing a no-knock search warrant.

Adam Vail, a member of the Omaha Police Department’s SWAT team, who was serving a no-knock warrant at the home of 37-year-old Cameron Ford around 7 a.m. on Aug. 28, was at the home of Ford just 11 seconds before he fired a single shot into Ford’s chest. Ford was disarmed during the interaction.

Kleine said Vail reasonably believed his safety was in danger. Although Vail said in an interview with investigators that Ford “rushed” at him with no visible hands, the body camera video of the interaction is completely obscured by a ballistic shield worn by Vail.

“After a full review of the evidence provided to us by the investigative team, we find that the Vail OPD officer’s use of deadly force was legal under the use of deadly force laws in the state of Nebraska,” Kleine, flanked by Sgt. Deputy Douglas County Prosecutor Brenda Beadle said at the news conference.

During a news conference Sunday, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said the no-fire warrant was related to a narcotics and firearms investigation. The search warrant application remains sealed.

Officer Adam Vail — Alas

OMAHA POLICE DEPARTMENT

Schmaderer said his department conducts a threat assessment before applying for a no-knock search warrant. A score of 25 is the minimum threshold for seeking an anti-knock warrant, he said, and the rating for Ford was at 80. The maximum possible threat assessment score is 92.

Vail was involved in the execution of 122 “high risk” search warrants during his six-year career with the department. He has been placed on leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

The police department is conducting an internal affairs investigation to determine whether Vail followed all department policies and procedures. In the coming months, a grand jury will also be convened to investigate the case and will have the option of bringing criminal charges against Vail or anyone else it deems criminally responsible.

This story is developing.