A Berryville police officer’s actions in the fatal shooting of a Eureka Springs man on May 1 were justified, and no criminal charges against the officer are warranted, Carroll County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Rogers wrote in a May 22 letter to the Arkansas State Police.

Rogers’ letter identified the officer as Sgt. Cody Boren. Rogers wrote that he based his decision on a report from the state police, who investigated the death of Jeremy William Coyle, 44, at the request of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

“It is the opinion of this office that Cody Boren’s use of deadly force against Coyle was justified under the circumstances, and criminal charges against Sergeant Boren are not warranted in this matter,” Rogers’ letter says.

According to a news release issued after the incident by the state police, officers with the Tri-City SWAT team were attempting to serve search and arrest warrants for Coyle at about 11:15 a.m. May 1 in the 13000 block of Arkansas Highway 187 in Eureka Springs.

“SWAT officers contacted Coyle and attempted to have him exit his residence,” the ASP news release says. “When he did not comply, they entered the home and reported that they found him with a firearm. Witnesses said Coyle pointed the weapon at officers, prompting an officer to fire his service weapon, striking Coyle.”

The ASP release says Coyle was pronounced dead at the scene after being treated by paramedics.

The Tri-City SWAT team in composed of officers from the Berryville, Eureka Springs and Green Forest police departments.

The ASP release said officers were attempting to arrest Coyle on a warrant related to sexual assault charges.

A probable-cause affidavit written by CCSO investigator Casey Helmlinger said that on April 30, Helmlinger received a referral from the ASP Child Abuse Hotline regarding a 10-year-old girl who told a forensic interviewer that Coyle had sexually assaulted her multiple times, with the last incident happening one day earlier.