FOLEY, Ala. — A Foley police officer has been cleared of any wrongdoing in an off-duty shooting that occurred in a Pensacola bar on Dec. 27, 2008.

Ofc. Maurice Wiley had been placed on paid administrative leave after he shot a Century, Fla., man who was allegedly threatening him with a knife in the parking lot of Boomerzzz, a bar where Wiley was meeting a friend. The incident between Wiley and Johnny Cloud, 37, allegedly began when Cloud and some friends began using racial slurs directed at Wiley, an African-American. Cloud and those with him that night are white.

The press release issued Monday by Foley Police Chief David Wilson said Wiley has been cleared by Foley Police Department. The release said FPD’s investigation revealed a number of details regarding the shooting.

Wiley had arrived at the bar at approximately 2:30 a.m. Within 15 minutes of his arrival, some white males started using “racial slurs.” Wiley asked those involved to stop using the words and was threatened by Cloud, who continued to use racial slurs including what the release said was the “‘n’ word.” Cloud is also alleged to have threatened to get a gun from his vehicle. At that point, Wiley attempted to leave the bar, the release said.

Cloud then confronted Wiley with a knife in the parking lot.

“Several witnesses gave statements that Officer Wiley continued backing away from Mr [Sic] Cloud while telling him to drop the knife,” Wilson said in the release.

Cloud, however, continued to come at Wiley “thrashing with the knife.” Wiley then drew a .22 “pocket pistol,” identified himself as a police officer, and ordered Cloud to drop the knife, all the while backing up.

When Cloud continued to advance with the knife, the release said Wiley employed self-defense when he shot Cloud in the upper body.

Wiley received Critical Incident Stress counseling following the incident. He has been returned to full duty following the investigation.

On Tuesday, a spokeswoman at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola said Cloud remains in serious condition.

Sgt. Ted Roy, public information officer with the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office, said Cloud is in a “medically-induced coma,” and investigators are waiting to talk with him as soon as possible. Roy said Cloud is possibly looking at an aggravated assault charge in connection with the bar incident.