A Lauderdale County grand jury did not return an indictment against a Florence police officer who fatally shot a man in April.

The officer, who was not publicly named, shot a man police said was armed with two knives on April 1 at about 10:52 a.m. in Florence.

Police Chief Ron Tyler said in a press conference that day that the incident happened in the backyard of a property in the 200 block of North Walnut Street.

According to Tyler, police received information about a person in the area with “violent felony warrants from out-of-state.”

Sheriff Joe Hamilton said the man, later identified as Bart James Barcelou, 42, of Florence, had active warrants in Kane County, Utah for three counts of first degree rape, and one count of felony third degree dealing in harmful material to a minor by an adult.

Police attempted to take Barcelou into custody, but Tyler said the man resisted and “posed a lethal threat.”

“Our guys attempted to deescalate the situation,” he said. “We did attempt to use less lethal force in the process of apprehending him.”

According to Hamilton, Barcelou had two knives – one in each hand – at the time of the incident.

District Attorney Chris Connelly said the case was presented to the grand jury last week, which returned no bill. Prior to the session, Connelly met with Barcelou’s widow, who was allowed to view the officer’s body cam footage.

The case was investigated by the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office at Tyler’s request.