THE STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE HAS RULED THAT THE SIX OFFICERS THAT FIRED UPON A MAN AT A BUSY SARASOTA INTERSECTION LAST MONTH WERE JUSTIFIED IN USING DEADLY FORCE. ALSO, AN INTERNAL REVIEW HAS FOUND THAT SEARGANT JACK BLESSEE AND DEPUTIES GABE ECKERT, BRIAN BIEGEL, BRYAN IVINGS, JOHN SWINNEY, AND DAVID MICHEEL ALL PERFORMED IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WHEN THEY SHOT AT 30 YEAR OLD HARRY BELL AFTER A CHASE FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT IN THE OSPREY AREA. BELL FLED THE SCENE TO THE INTERSECTION OF BENEVA AND CLARK ROADS, WHERE HE WAS STOPPED BY TRAFFIC. HE WAS SURROUNDED AND ORDERED TO COME OUT OF THE STOLEN PICKUP TRUCK HE WAS IN, BUT INSTEAD HE POINTED A GUN AT DEPUTIES. HE WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD BUT HAS SINCE RECOVERED AND IS IN THE SARASOTA COUNTY JAIL ON EIGHT FELONY CHARGES. THE SIX OFFICERS HAVE RETURNED TO DUTY.
