Union County jury clears cop in shooting of man with knife

CLARK —” Prosecutors say a police officer who shot and wounded a knife-wielding man who allegedly was threatening passers-by on a street last year has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

The finding was made by a Union County grand jury that reviewed the Sept. 20 incident in Clark.

Prosecutors say police encountered 36-year-old township resident Emmanuel Goda when they responded to reports of a man threatening local residents and lunging at passing vehicles with a knife.

The officers repeatedly ordered Goda to drop the knife. But he allegedly refused and advanced toward one of them.

One officer fired a single shot, striking Goda in the abdomen.

Goda remains jailed on charges of attempted murder, attempted aggravated assault and two weapons offenses. It's not clear if he's retained an attorney.

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