SARASOTA, Fla. — Five officers with the Sarasota Police Department are able to return to their full duties after they were deemed "justified" in a deadly shooting earlier this year near the New College of Florida, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Friday.
The shooting happened on the morning of Feb. 26. Just after 8 a.m., the college alerted the public about the shooting, saying it had impacted the area of University Parkway and U.S. Highway 41.
A police spokesperson said at the time that the shooting happened after officers tried to stop a man who had an active warrant in Sarasota County. He died after reportedly exchanging gunfire with Sarasota police, the agency confirmed on Feb. 27. The man's identity has not been released.
On March 1, police released the body camera video of all five officers involved. The video shows officers pursuing the driver of a car, later identified as the suspect, and performing a PIT maneuver to get the car to stop. You can hear on the video an officer say the driver reversed into a nearby pond, partially submerging the car.
In the video, officers can be heard ordering the person to get out of the car, their guns drawn as they shelter behind palm trees. The officers appear to back down for a moment when one shouts that the suspect had put a gun to their head.
"Gun to his head! Gun to his head!" one officer shouts.
"Come on, man don't do it," the same officer shouts toward the man. "Don't do it brother, come on. You gotta get out of the car, it's the better way —"
Before he can finish, a flash can be seen coming from the car and gunshots erupt and both police and the man exchange fire, body camera video from Officer No. 4 shows. That officer can be seen running away from the gunfire presumably to find better cover.
Viewer discretion is advised for the following video, released by Sarasota police. The story continues below.
FDLE officers took over the officer-involved shooting investigation, as per protocol. The five officers involved were placed on administrative leave during the months-long investigation.
Then, on Friday, July 19, the FDLE said it completed its "thorough investigation."
"After several months of diligent review, the FDLE has determined that the officers' actions were justified and that they may return to duty," the agency said in a brief news release. All five officers who were placed on administrative leave following the incident have been cleared.