Three police officers who shot and killed a bank robbery suspect in January have been cleared of wrongdoing.
Carlos Rudolfo Espinoza Arcia, 43, of Hyattsville, Md., was shot dead by police as he tried to leave the scene of the robbery in Takoma Park with a hostage as a human shield, police said. He took a female bank employee hostage during the robbery and wielded a handgun as he tried to escape with her.
After a dye pack exploded, Espinoza Arcia stepped in some snow and ice, allowing the hostage to get away. He chased her with his gun drawn, and three Takoma Park officers and three Prince George's County officers opened fire, killing him, police said.
The suspect's gun was not loaded, police later learned.
A Montgomery County grand jury cleared the Takoma Park officers Thursday. They had been on routine administrative leave and can return to work immediately.
