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State Attorney: Trooper Justified In Shooting Death Of Cottage Hill Man
September 20, 2010
State Attorney: Trooper Justified In Shooting Death Of Cottage Hill Man
An State Attorney’s Office opinion released Monday morning says a Florida Highway Patrol officer was justified in the shooting death of a Cottage Hill man during a traffic stop in July.
“The death of Clifton Austin Salter is certainly an unfortunate situation. While Trooper (Michael) Black was only in the process of an ordinary and routine traffic stop, Mr. Salter’s actions were sufficient to create an imminent fear of violence in the mind of Trooper Black,” according to Assistant State Attorney John A. Molchan.
Salter, 59, was shot multiple times during a Florida Highway Patrol traffic stop on Pine Forest Road the morning of July 14. The State Attorney’s Office said that prior to, or on the arrival of, the trooper at his truck, Salter drew a handgun and shot himself once. However, the report states, that wound was not fatal. Salter was shot a total of five times after raising his gun in the director of the trooper.
The State Attorney’s Office offered the following account of the incidents as they happened the morning of July 14:
Trooper black observed Salter’s red pickup traveling at 66 mph in a 45 mph zone on Pine Forest Road just north of Longleaf Drive, about a mile from the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds. He initiated a traffic stop, with Salter coming to a stop about four-tenths of a mile later. Black approached the truck on the passenger side and knocked on the window, according to the report. Salter did not respond, and the trooper noted blood coming from Salter’s nose.
“At this time, Trooper Black drew his handgun and believed that Salter had shot himself,” the report states.
An autopsy later determined that Salter sustained a gunshot wound to the upper portion of his month, but the autopsy indicated the self-inflicted gunshot wound was not fatal.
Black gave Salter multiple commands to drop his weapon with no response. An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy and another trooper arrived on scene. Black attempted to open the door of the truck, but it was locked.
“Trooper Black observed Salter turn his head and raise the handgun in Trooper Black’s direction. Trooper Black believed that Salter was going to shoot him,” the report states. “At this point, Trooper Black fired his handgun three times through the passenger window, striking Salter in the chest.”
Salter continued to move, according to Black and the ECSO deputy.
“Salter was observed by Trooper Black to shift the handgun in his direction again. Trooper Black fired his handgun twomore times, causing Salter to slump again,” according to the report.
Salter was pronounced dead on the scene by Escambia County EMS.
Salter’s driving privileges were permanently revoked in 1997, and he had to previous felony convictions. “Further investigation also revealed that Salter was a Vietnam
Combat Veteran who was receiving treatment for depression, PTSD and bipolar disorders. Interviews with Salter’s friends revealed that Salter had no intention of going back to jail and would kill himself if caught driving without a license,” the State Attorney’s Office report stated.
Salter was the brother of Santa Rosa County Commissioner Don Salter.
Pictured above and below: Officials investigate the officer-involved shooting of Clifton Salter of Cottage Hill in July. NorthEscambia.com file photos click to enlarge.
Comments
14 Responses to “State Attorney: Trooper Justified In Shooting Death Of Cottage Hill Man”
I am Clif’s daughter. Most of the comments on here have been good ones and I appreciate that thank you. I agree with the person that said there is three sides to every story, his side, your side and truth. We will never know the truth, we were not there we have no idea what REALLY happened. But, I believe what’s done is done there is no changing anything and no matter what happened it won’t bring my dad back. He had a troubled life had many ups and downs but he was a great, great father who I know loved me very much. He functioned the best he could with the issues he had, he made mistakes in his life and felt like he couldn’t escape them and that is unfortunate. He had so many family and friends that loved him no matter what and I have seen such an out pouring of love from all of them. He made the decision he was not going to go back to jail and he decided to try and kill himself. If officer black hadn’t killed him who knows how long he would have suffered and if he would have been a vegetable from his self inflicted gunshot wound. It is a tragic story for EVERYONE involved. I think most people on the pnj site who write things forget this is someone’s FATHER, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin etc. They seem to be able to write so easily as if they just know it all. They have no idea what the family was told by officers, they have never experienced ANYTHING like this but, so easily can judge and write things about someone’s family and that really upset me. I appreciate everyone who has said such sweet things about my dad. He is dearly missed every second of everyday.
Tammy
Sorry for you and your family’s loss. it seems to be a tragic situation for all involved.
Ok, I understand justified, but there is such a thing as overkill?
he used to come in the store every morning to get coffee he was a very sweet man always having a smile on his face
The stories are contradicting. First it was The Trooper heard the 1st shot and began to shoot back now The Trooper walks to the window and sees blood coming out of his Nose so he pulls the gun then shoots him. Please! There is 3 Sides to every story (Your side, Their side & The Truth) Looks like there is only The Troopers Side. “You Are Missed Very Much Cliff”
I knew him, and I believe the cops story…
Glad to here I’m not the only one that had trouble with this story.
Just like I have trouble with a lot of them!
Come on Now! Did any body actually think that the State’s Attorney was going to find that the shooting was NOT justified. These people stick together.. They never know when it will be them who makes the wrong decision. Let’s see, the man had shot himself in the mouth, the state trooper shot him 3 times at point blank range. He was still moving, so the trooper shot him 2 more times. I guess it is easier when there’s only ONE STORY TOLD.
RIP Unce Austin, you are dearly missed and loved very much!
Love always, Your Niece!
There’s an important part of this story that is missing. A convicted felon is not allowed to own a gun. Was there a valid serial # on the handgun? If so then who was the last person this gun was registered to? If so was it sold or was it reported stolen? Did his friends that stated he would kill himself rather than go back to jail know he had a handgun? Whoever allowed this mentally disturbed man to have possession of the handgun is the guilty one.
Last Tuesday a first cousin (Betty) dropped by my shop around lunch and began telling me and a lifelong friend of our family about the problems that her direct family was having dealing with her brother John. John was two years older than Betty which is my age of 56. John was a vietnam veteran that was shot in the neck, bitten by a momba snake and subjected to Agent Orange. He received a purple heart and was honorably discharged from the Army. Johns hair began to turn gray in his late 30s which is not common to our family line. He was diagnosed with mild strokes in his early 40s. His mind had became slow because of the strokes. Betty told us that In the last year Johns mind had became much worse. She said he had disagreements with both of their older brothers and even threatened to hit one of them in the head with a hammer. She said that brother would not go in his trailer after that because he had two guns at the end of his couch. She said lately he would start crying when people approached him. He refused to take the antidepressants that the VA doctor prescribed him. He said they make him sick. The first thing I told Betty is you’ve got to get those guns out of his possession one way or another. The second thing I told her is they have to get John mental help through the VA. She said but he doesn’t think anything is wrong with him. I said Betty its got to be done. It takes the signature of two direct family members. At 4:00 pm that afternoon she called me crying. After not being able to get John to the door for the second time that day, she went into his trailer to find that he died on his couch during the night. John was a good man that was handicapped by useless political war and it appears that Mister Salter was also.
“May they both walk with God and help fight his war against evil”
!!!A WAR THAT’S WORTH WINNING!!!
It is truly a disgrace how these people fought this political war and came to be even further disgraced by a government that literally pushed them aside. When we called on them, they were ready, when they called on us[the government] we truly let them down. This is well beyond being sad.
PTSD is not always caused by combat.Events such as hurricans,9-11,death of family member or even childhood abuse can trigger PTSD.If you or someone you know is acting in a behavior unlike themselves please try to get help for both you and them.This disease does not get better over time or go away.Don’t wait.Call for help while there is still a good chance for recovery.Google PTSD for more info.
Talk about a no win situation, this is it.
” Salter was a Vietnam Combat Veteran who was receiving treatment for depression, PTSD and bipolar disorders”
I am glad they found in favor of the Trooper…. however, this is such a very sad, heartbreaking situation.