Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy Cleared by U.S. Court of Appeals in Fatal Traffic Stop Shooting
By Space Coast Daily // November 15, 2024
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta affirmed lower Court's ruling
WATCH: The United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta affirming a lower U.S. Court’s ruling that involved a deputy-involved fatal shooting incident that happened on Nov. 13, 2020, was released Wednesday.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – The United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta affirming a lower U.S. Court’s ruling that involved a deputy-involved fatal shooting incident that happened on Nov. 13, 2020, was released Wednesday.
During the incident in 2020, Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy Jafet Santiago-Miranda fired on a vehicle after giving repeated verbal commands for the driver of the vehicle to stop.
The driver of the car, 16-year-old Angelo Crooms, accelerated the vehicle towards Santiago-Miranda, “who was then forced to fire his service weapon in an attempt to stop the deadly threat of the car from crashing into him,” according to an investigative report. Also killed was 18-year-old Sincere Pierce.
“The United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit’s affirmation publicly released on November 13, 2024, is a much appreciated and well-reasoned reminder of the violence and dangers that face our brave and hardworking law enforcement officers each and every day,” said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.
“Despite Deputy Santiago-Miranda issuing seven distinct commands to “stop the vehicle!” the driver, in this case not only refused to comply but then made the willful decision to aim and accelerate his vehicle directly at Deputy Santiago-Miranda while in the line of duty.”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE BREVARD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
The Brevard State Attorney’s Office also cleared Santiago-Miranda of any criminal conduct, making this decision after an exhaustive inquiry by the State Attorney’s office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and the Brevard County Medical Examiner.
“The court opinions throughout this matter have upheld our assessment that under the circumstances of this case, Deputy Santiago-Miranda was forced to make a ‘split-second judgment’ that did not constitute an unreasonable or excessive use of force, nor did he violate the driver/plaintiffs’ constitutional rights when the driver chose to accelerate his vehicle at our Deputy rather than simply stopping and complying with the lawful orders,” said Sheriff Ivey.
“We thank the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the State Attorney’s Office, and the Department of Justice for their independent reviews, investigative conclusions, and the United States Trial and Appellate Courts for their attention to the actual facts of this very important case.”
Related Story:State Attorney Phil Archer Report Clears Brevard Deputy in Officer-Involved Fatal Shooting Incident
