BOARD: SHOTS WERE
‘NECESSARY’ USE OF FORCE
Two Clearwater
Police Department Patrol Officers acted properly earlier this month
when they shot a man - armed with a 16-inch blade sword - who was
advancing on one of them in a threatening manner, a department Shooting
Review Board concluded today.
The actions
of both Officers were found in compliance with all applicable department
policies and procedures; indeed, the Board noted the Officers’ intelligent,
measured coordination of efforts and their restrained response to
the threat when a “less lethal” beanbag round was initially used
to try and stop the danger.
When the
beanbag projectile round failed to subdue the man, he was shot with
a department-issued Walther P990 .40-caliber handgun; he was hit
in the chest, the left hip and the lower right leg, treated at the
scene by Clearwater Fire Department paramedics and flown by helicopter
to a trauma center, where he later died.
Both Patrol
Officers have returned to their regular Patrol Division duties.
According
to Investigators from the Criminal Investigations Division (detective
bureau) and the Office of Professional Standards (internal affairs)
who conducted independent-but-parallel investigations:
Joshua Paul
Rosenbloom, a 20-year-old Clearwater man, consumed a significant
amount of prescription pills on Thursday June 8, made threatening
statements to his girlfriend and armed himself with a number of
edged weapons.
When Christine
Rodick dialed 9-1-1 and tearfully told a call-taker “He’s trying
to kill himself” and that Rosenbloom was armed with three swords,
her boyfriend took the phone and told the communications operator:
“You got no chance – I’ll be dead by the time you get here.” Rosenbloom
was also overheard to say he would kill anyone who came through
the door of his 200 Fairwood Avenue second-floor apartment – responding
officers were advised of his weapons and threats – and that “I’m
gonna take another 25 sleeping pills and we’ll see how things go.”
The first
two Police Officers to arrive minutes after the 6:28 p.m. call were
Officer George Phillips and Officer Robert Furman, the latter who
quickly emptied his department-issued shotgun of traditional shells
and replaced them with “less lethal” beanbag rounds.
They spoke
briefly to Rodick before entering the one-bedroom apartment where
they saw Rosenbloom - armed with an edged weapon - standing in the
doorway of the bathroom. He ignored their orders to drop the blade,
and he closed the door. Officer Phillips moved to his right to turn
down music blaring from a computer; as he did so, Rosenbloom walked
out of the doorway, brandishing a Samurai sword with the blade held
upright, and advanced toward Officer Furman.
Furman fired
one round from the shotgun, and the beanbag projectile struck Rosenbloom
in the middle of his chest, just below his sternum; it did not stop
his advance.
Rosenbloom
– now six to eight feet from Officer Furman and about 12-feet from
Phillips – continued to advance on Officer Furman, the sword in
his hands. Officer Phillips fired three rounds from his handgun,
hitting Rosenbloom in the lower right leg, the left hip and his
chest.
Preliminary
autopsy results indicate Rosenbloom had ingested a type of drugs
known as benzodiazepines, which are prescribed for anxiety and depression.
There was also an indication of marijuana in his system.
The Shooting
Board concluded that the Officers’ actions were in accordance with
state and department guidelines; that the Officers found themselves
in imminent danger; and that the shooting was justifiable.
This is
the extent of information available regarding the findings of this
Shooting Review Board. For additional details, please contact Public
Information Officer Wayne Shelor at (727)-562-4333.
SID KLEIN
Chief of Police
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