Officer Acted Within Guidelines in Shooting

A veteran Clearwater Police Officer acted within the scope of department guidelines when he fired at a man he believed was trying to run him down with a car, a Shooting Review Board ruled Tuesday.

Officer Tom Stein, a 40-year-old, 15-year member of the Clearwater Police Department, was found in compliance with all governing Policies and Procedures in the Saturday, October 13th shooting while working an off-duty job at Countryside Mall's Dillard's department store.

The 10:57 a.m. incident began when Officer Stein was alerted by store security that a man was concealing leather jackets and leaving without paying for them. Officer Stein confronted the suspect inside the 27001 U.S. 19 North store, and, after a brief encounter in which the suspect ignored the Officer's orders, chased the man as he ran from the store and across a parking lot.

Officer Stein chased the fleeing suspect between a number of parked vehicles before realizing the man had jumped into a white vehicle – backed into a parking spot - and was driving toward him; the officer fired three shots from his department-issued Walther .40-caliber weapon at the on-coming car. The suspect then drove from the scene and left the area. The Officer was placed on routine Administrative Leave.

Several days later, Clearwater Detectives developed information that led them to the suspect's vehicle, which they impounded, and eventually to a south St. Petersburg motel where the suspect was located and arrested.

Carlton Lamar Grooms (09-06-66), who provided investigators with no permanent address, was charged with Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer. Grooms is still in the Pinellas County Jail; additional charges are pending. Although Grooms was found to have an injury to his right knee when arrested, it was never determined if the injury was caused by a bullet. Grooms refused medical treatment.

Grooms, who has a lengthy criminal history including charges of Resisting Arrest, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and various weapons violations, resisted arrest October 18th and tried to escape.

Criminal Investigations Division Detective Laura Spelman said investigators determined all three of Officer Stein's shots hit the car and that they recovered the rounds. Several civilian witnesses told Detective Spelman they saw the chase and shooting unfold; that they heard Officer Stein shout "Stop!" several times; and that - in their opinion - Officer Stein was in danger as the car pulled out of the parking lot toward him.

Detective Spelman's investigative team presented its conclusions to the Office of Professional Standards (Internal Affairs), and subsequently to the Shooting Review Board, comprised of Command Staff.

The Shooting Review Board found Officer Stein was reasonably in fear of imminent death or serious injury; that he acted in compliance with applicable department Policies and Procedures; and that his actions were in compliance with Use of Force directives. Officer Stein was returned to duty at the conclusion of the Shooting Review Board.

This is the extent of information available regarding this case. For additional details, please contact Public Information Officer Wayne Shelor at 727-562-4333.

/s/
SID KLEIN
Chief of Police