by David Flint
Six months after the tragic shooting of Steven Bell in the Berlin State Forest, it has been reported that a grand jury voted to take no action in the case. According to Acting Rensselaer County District Attorney Arthur F. Glass, the grand jury has cleared the State Police officers of any blame in his death.
[private]Following a domestic dispute on November 17 at Bell’s Hilltop road residence in Berlin, State Police joined with Sheriff’s Deputies and DEC Police in a search for Bell who was reported to have fired a rifle and then left his home with the weapon. Bell’s vehicle was found at about 6:30 pm abandoned in the State Forest at the upper end of Cowdry Hollow Road, Some 7 mm ammunition was found in the vehicle but no weapons. Police later encountered Bell in the forest approaching them. Police said that he disregarded commands to stop and show his hands and that he made threatening statements. Believing that the use of deadly physical force against them and others was imminent, Troopers fired rounds from a .223 patrol rifle and a Glock hand gun. Bell was rendered first aid by the officers on the scene but died from the gunshot wounds.
Glass said that during an extensive search of the area, officers found three rifles and that there was evidence to suggest that one or more of them could have been connected to Steven Bell.[/private]