Police Officer Cleared In Off-Duty South Side Shooting

A police officer was cleared of aggravated assault and other charges after he was accused of shooting someone in the hand while off-duty.

Officer Paul Abel, 35, was found not guilty of all charges in a non-jury trial and discharged immediately by the judge.

Abel had been accused of shooting Kaleb Miller in the hand when his service weapon went off after an altercation with Miller.

The incident happened while he was with his wife on her birthday in the South Side in June 2008.

The judge told Abel he did not condone the officer’s conduct during the incident, but what happened did not rise to the level of criminality.

Abel’s defense attorney, Bill Diffenderer, spoke with Channel 11 News immediately after the judge ruled his client not guilty.

“I think that Judge Manning’s decision was right along with the law and, obviously, we’re very pleased,” he said.

Abel had been suspended without pay while the charges against him were investigated. A representative of the Fraternal Order of Police said the order will try to get Abel back on the job as soon as possible.