Cleveland police officer found not guilty for role in fatal shooting in Parma

CLEVELAND - A Cleveland police officer has been found not guilty for his role in a deadly shooting in Parma last July.

David Mindek, 41, was accused of dereliction of duty, a misdemeanor, for failing to help arrest Daniel Ficker.

Judge McClelland issued the ruling just after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and said Ficker's death was a "tragic situation." Read the ruling here: http://on.wews.com/SHRlxr

Cleveland police officer Matthew Craska shot and killed Ficker, 27, during a fight with Ficker outside Ficker's Wareham Drive home on July 4, 2011.

Craska testified Tuesday that he did not know where Mindek was immediately before or after he shot Ficker.

Judge Robert McCllelland is scheduled to rule on Mindek's case at 3:30 p.m. in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

The incident started during a party at Mindek's home on July 3. Ficker was there because his girlfriend is the cousin of Mindek's wife.

Mindek told police his wife discovered jewelry and cash were missing from the home after the party and suspected Ficker took the items.

Mindek was off-duty at the time and called to ask Craska, who was on-duty, to take him to Ficker's home to question him about the theft.

Craska told Parma police that Ficker became violent when they began to question him. He said Ficker attacked him and tried to reach for his gun before he shot him.

A grand jury cleared Craska of any wrongdoing in March.

The jewelry and cash missing from Mindek's home have never been recovered.