NEW YORK - Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau announced Thursday that a New York County Grand Jury has voted not to file criminal charges against Police Officer Micah Adler in connection with a shooting incident in July in which Spencer Parris, 39, was killed. The grand jury heard testimony from 10 police, medical and civilian witnesses.

The investigation revealed that on July 17, 2008 at approximately 11:20 p.m., Adler and his partner were approached by a cab driver whose passenger was the deceased’s girlfriend. The woman told police that Parris locked her out of their shared apartment and she was trying to retrieve some personal belongings.     

The officers responded to the apartment building at 321 E. 83rd Street and were buzzed into the building by other tenants. Once inside, Adler’s partner knocked on the door of the couple’s second floor apartment and was refused entry by Parris. Parris suddenly opened the door and charged at Adler while holding a knife. The officer backed away from Parris until he reached the end of the hallway and fired one shot. Parris was struck in the chest and was declared dead at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Adler is assigned to the 19th Precinct in Manhattan.