Officers cleared in fatal shooting

SANDPOINT — A special prosecutor has concluded Sandpoint Police officers used appropriate force on when they shot and killed a Sandpoint man who opened fire on them this spring.

The city announced on Tuesday that Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh cleared officers Eric Clark and Mike Hutter of wrongdoing in the death of Brandon Kuhlman.

“Officers Hutter and Clark faced a very dangerous situation, with a man who had fired on them without provocation. They responded appropriately to protect themselves and Mr. Crawford (the caller), and end the potentially deadly confrontation,” McHugh said in a statement.

Clark was shot in the neck and left hand and Hutter sustained a gunshot injury to his chest and leg during the March 5 incident.

The city is holding a press conference at 10:30 a.m. at City Hall to release the results of the review conducted by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department. Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon and Dave Hagar of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department will be in attendance and body camera footage will also be released.