CHARGES WON'T BE FILED IN SHOOTING.

Byline: Phillip W. Browne Daily News Staff Writer

A Granada Hills man accused of threatening a Los Angeles police officer with a shotgun has been released from jail with no charges filed against him, attorneys announced Friday.

Steven Michael Short, 23, was released from jail Thursday and is recovering at home from a gunshot wound to the hip, said Los Angeles attorney Carlos Spiga.

Short was wounded by Officer Michael Patton of the Los Angeles Police Department's Foothill Division during a Feb. 8 confrontation that stemmed from a report that someone had thrown a half-full beer can at an off-duty officer.

Deputy District Attorney Bill Johnson declined to file assault charges against Short on Tuesday, said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office.

Police accounts of the shooting differ from what other witnesses said occurred at Short's house in the 15000 block of Kingsbury Street. Soon after the shooting, Short and his family hired Spiga and attorney David Lumb to look into the case.

Travis Garlitz, 21, who is accused of throwing the beer can and who claims he was beaten by officers, also has retained an attorney.

``Based on our preliminary investigation, there are considerable inconsistencies in information received and reported to date,'' Spiga said. ``Mr. Short has been severely injured, imprisoned and continues to suffer trauma as a result of this incident.''

An LAPD spokesman, Sgt. Willie Guerrero, declined to comment about the case, citing the possibility of civil litigation.

Witnesses have said police overreacted, didn't identify themselves before entering the house, conducted an unauthorized search and brutalized Garlitz. Officers said they had permission to enter and were justified in searching the house for suspects.

Police went to the residence after Garlitz, who was riding in a car with Short's roommates, threw the beer can and hit the off-duty officer's car, according to police.

The investigation led them to Short's house where officers had planned to identify and arrest suspects, police said.

Short, who is employed by a television studio as a prop coordinator, was sleeping in his bedroom when he heard a commotion in the house and one of his roommates yelling for help, family members said.

He jumped out of bed and grabbed a shotgun, police said.

Police said Patton, 31, an officer with the Foothill Division for three years, knocked on Short's bedroom door, identified himself as an officer and ordered Short to come out. When Short opened the door, he pointed a shotgun at Patton who then fired a single shot, police said.