MELBOURNE, Fla. – The use of force by police to subdue Markeith Loyd — the fugitive suspected of shooting an Orlando police officer to death — was justified, according to Phil Archer, state attorney for Brevard and Seminole counties in Florida.
The Jan. 17, 2017 arrest, which was captured on video, showed four police officers punching, kicking and striking Loyd in the face with the muzzle of a rifle as Loyd, wearing a bulletproof vest, was lying in the street.
Loyd lost his left eye.
Florida gov. Rick Scott, acting in response to a request from Aramis Ayala, state attorney for Orange and Osceola counties, appointed Archer to review the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigative findings of the 42-second confrontation.
“After carefully examining the report and evidence, I have determined that the use of force used during the arrest of Markeith Loyd was lawful and justified under the provisions of Florida Statutes, and no further action will be taken by this office,” Archer wrote in a statement announcing his decision clearing the officers of any wrongdoing.
Loyd’s capture brought to end an intense manhunt that began after prosecutors said he shot and killed Orlando Police Officer Lt. Debra Clayton Jan. 9, 2018, at a Walmart.
Clayton had spotted Loyd and was attempting to take him into custody in connection with the fatal Orlando shooting of his pregnant ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon in December 2017.
During the search, police believed Loyd was armed and dangerous and may have been seeking to trigger a “suicide by cop” scenario to avoid going back to state prison, authorities said.
As officers surrounded the residence where Loyd was holed up, he slowly crawled outside in the ballistic vest, ignoring commands.
During the beating, police said Loyd struggled with officers. He was subdued with Officer Clayton’s handcuffs, reports showed.
“They beat me up,” Loyd, then 41, was heard saying three times in the hours after his capture.
The arrest also came as the U.S. Marshal’s Office placed Loyd on their most wanted list and offered a reward up to $125,000 for information leading to his arrest.
Archer tapped Assistant State Attorney Stacey Salmons to write the state attorney office’s finding.
Citing jury instructions that are typically used in such cases when they go to trial, the report concluded the officers were justified in their use of deadly force against Loyd.
There’s an understanding that the “danger need not have been actual; however, to justify the use of deadly force, the appearance of danger must have been so real that a reasonably cautious and prudent person under the same circumstances would have believed that the danger could be avoided only through the use of that force,” wrote Salmons, who coordinated the investigation with the Florida Department of Law enforcement.
“Based upon appearances, (the officer) must have actually believed that the danger was real,” Salmons wrote.
Loyd faces a murder trial in September in connection with Dixon’s death.
A trial in connection to the shooting death of Clayton is scheduled for May 2020.
Follow J.D. Gallop on Twitter: @JDGallop.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida prosecutor says force ‘justifiable’ in shooting Markeith Loyd
https://www.yahoo.com/news/state-attorney-says-orlando-officers-173325841.html
“During the search, police believed Loyd was armed and dangerous and may have been seeking to trigger a “suicide by cop” scenario to avoid going back to state prison, authorities said.
As officers surrounded the residence where Loyd was holed up, he slowly crawled outside in the ballistic vest, ignoring commands.”
Umm, wearing a ballistic vest would completely contradict a “suicide by cop” thought process.
Aaand of course, they’ve investigated themselves and have found themselves to be innocent of any wrongdoing.
Besides, the fact that he killed a PIG… going back to state prison would make him a hero there (at least with the inmates, probably not the guard pigs, though).
The ‘authorities’ lie, methinks.
When this tide turns , don’t tell us we didn’t warn you
That is if any of you are left
This bullshit circle jerk between the pig union , judges and prosecutors is going to eventually impact them all
Hope I’m alive to see it
“the fugitive suspected of shooting an Orlando police officer to death — was justified, according to Phil Archer, ”
HEY PHIL!! YOUVE JUST BECOME A TRUE “ENEMY OF THE STATE”!!(HATS OFF TO YOU,…..EOS