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Police Officer Shoots Man During Murder Investigation
November 6, 2010
A Pensacola Police officer is on paid administrative leave after he was involved in a shooting incident early Saturday morning.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the murder at 100 East Texar Street, near the School District’s Hall Center, about 3:15 Saturday morning.
According to witnesses who were on Texar Drive at the time of the incident, the victim was traveling on Texar when someone in dark colored vehicle fired several shots into the victim’s Buick Lacrosse. The victim, identified as Joel R. Harris, 20, of Pensacola, crashed into a concrete support on a pedestrian overpass. Harris was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Officer Justin Roedel was in the area of Davis Street and Texar Drive around 3:30 a.m. assisting the Sheriff’s Office for suspects involved in the homicide when he tried to contact occupants of a maroon Chevrolet truck in a parking lot at Davis and Baars streets, one of the occupants fled on foot. Roedel chased the male through a grass lot between Leonard and Baars streets to Sixth Avenue where the suspect ran behind a large oak tree.
Rodel pursued the suspect around the tree and when he reached him, the suspect was pointing a handgun at him. Rodel fired several rounds and struck the suspect, who was taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to a news release from Pensacola Police,
The suspect was later identified as Anthony Michael Smith, 22, of 1725 Dauphine St., Pensacola. He was listed in critical condition Saturday afternoon.
Soon after Smith arrived at the hospital, two bags of marijuana fell out of one of his pants pockets while he was undergoing treatment. Smith will be charged with aggravated assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer and additional charges are pending, according to PPD.
As Roedel chased Smith, the other occupants in the truck fled the scene with the vehicle and have not yet been identified.
Roedel, 26, has been employed by the Pensacola Police Department since December 2008. He was not injured in the shooting.
In addition to an internal department review of the incident, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement also is conducting an investigation. No additional information will be released by Pensacola Police until the FDLE investigation concludes.
The Sheriff’s Office, in a written statement, said the Pensacola Police shooting was not believed to be related to the homicide on Texar Drive.
Comments
12 Responses to “Police Officer Shoots Man During Murder Investigation”
Hey, I have an idea. Let’s forgo all of our constitutional rights…. This kind of thinking is exactly what will do us all in. The cop shouldn’t have been messing with the guy in the first place. I can’t help but think of Victor Steen. I have a right to ride my bike, park my car, or walk at any time of night on any public property WITHOUT being harassed by some pompous, abusive, self-important “Law Enforcement” Officer.
People expecting fingerprints on handguns have been watching too much TV…they are notoriously _bad_ for the collection of fingerprints as “perps” take steps to reduce possible ID back to them when they commit a crime.
Pointing a firearm at a Law Enforcement Officer is not just a crime against the officer, it’s a crime against our public safety – an especially heinous one. One only needs to see all of the shooting toward our LEOs in the recent months to see how bad this really is – and we’ve got a Deputy in Sacred Heart right now because of these thugs.
Really, people that jump to the side of the criminal (in opposition to Law Enforcement)just boggles the imagination. It’s just so seriously wrong and completely at odds with common decency.
good point SW, too many think they have the right to shoot folks in flight
well written article, thank you… couldn’t understand PNJ’s artlce, now I understand
Good job Officer Roedel! Pull a weapon on a cop – - – get shot. The way it should be…
@good job
Can’t shoot someone for running; seriously.
As long as the officer has proof that he had a weapon and it contains his finger prints then I don’t see an issue.
I would have shot him when he started running. If a cop tells you to stop then you should stop or else be shot. Bottom line!
>>>Why is there no story regarding the earlier homocide?? But, I’m glad the officer is okay.
The homicide is being investigated by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. As of late Saturday afternoon, no details concerning the murder had been released by the Sheriff’s Office.
Why is there no story regarding the earlier homocide?? But, I’m glad the officer is okay.
i have to say i don’t blame him, as much as these criminals like to pull guns on people, he was protecting himself from the crazies! i too, am glad officer roedel is okay!
I am glad Officer Roedel is safe and healthy.