Fort Dodge, Iowa



From the Fort Dodge Messenger of October 15, 2004

Grand jury won’t charge Cole



Medical examiner will not go to trial for the fatal shooting of Benton



No charges will be filed against Webster County’s medical examiner, Dr. Dan Cole, 58, in the shooting death of Paul Benton, 46, of Fort Dodge.



A grand jury delivered a decision not to indict Cole Thursday afternoon.



Cole maintained that the shooting, which happened Aug 8 after an altercation at Cole’s home, was in self-defense.



‘‘I’m very happy about it,’’ Cole said of the decision from his home Thursday afternoon, adding he believed the grand jury’s decision was correct.



Benton’s family members were angered by the decision, calling it unjust.

…



Cole has been the Webster County medical examiner for more than 30 years. He’s also the head of the emergency department at Trinity Regional Medical Center.



Monte Fisher, Cole’s attorney, told the Associated Press that the grand jury’s decision was consistent with Iowa law and what the statute allows.



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