By Rita Farlow, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 11, 2010
LARGO — Three Largo police officers who shot a man outside his home last month were justified in their use of force, authorities said Monday.
Officers Amanda Gay, Jorge Almeda and Adam Compton have been cleared to return to active duty after an investigation by the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office.
Police shot Robert Hayes Roll, 56, in the driveway of his home at 1636 Chateau Drive N in unincorporated Clearwater on Sept. 25.
Investigators said he first tried to rob a drugstore, then summoned police to his house and threatened them.
Officers opened fire when Roll came out of the house and pointed at them with a black and metal object, which later turned out to be a wallet wrapped in a chain.
Friends later said Roll was depressed and had previously threatened to commit suicide.
Largo police were notified Friday by the state attorney's office that the officers' actions were found to be "in the performance of their legal duty and that the shooting was justifiable homicide, pursuant to Florida Statute 776.012."
Gay, Almeda and Compton had been on paid administrative leave after the shooting, as is standard, pending the outcome of the investigation by the state attorney's office.