Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee admitted his department wasn't aware 28-year-old George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain now under investigation for killing a teenager, had a criminal record.

“Mr. Zimmerman had portrayed himself to have a squeaky clean record,” said Chief Lee.

At a press conference, police gave an update on the investigation with members of the community present.

The city manager and mayor of Sanford were also on hand.

“It is easy to take candy from a baby, it has been said over and over and over again, but this person did not, he didn’t take the candy he took a life,” said one woman to the city manager.

Zimmerman was patrolling the Retreat at Twin Lakes, a gated community, the night he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

It was during the NBA All-Star Weekend.

Zimmerman called 911 asking for back up; saying he thought Martin was suspicious.

Sanford police said Zimmerman was told by operators not to use his weapon, but he did so anyway, killing the teenager.

He claims he did it in self-defense.

“We don't have anything to dispute his claim of self-defense, at this point with the testimony and evidence that we have,” said Lee. “Mr. Zimmerman has made the statement of self-defense, until we can establish probable cause to dispute that, we do not have the grounds to arrest him.”

Officers said they also didn't have information on Zimmerman's violent criminal record until this investigation began.

Court Clerk documents from Orange County show that in 2005, Zimmerman faced charges for battery on a law enforcement officer and charges for violently resisting an officer.

Family members say Martin was walking back from a store where he was buying skittles, then was confronted by Zimmerman and began arguing, before

Zimmerman made the deadly shot. Residents protesting the Sanford Police Department for not arresting Zimmerman said news about his criminal record should be more than enough of a reason to arrest him.

Residents have said this was a white man who shot a black teenager in a predominantly white community.

“If I detained a white man in my community and I'm packing a gun driving an unofficial car, without a police uniform on, alright, and taking a gun and walk up to this man, detain him and shoot him, a white man, to death in the black community, I would be in jail,” said Sanford resident James Davis.

Many expressed that they believe Martin was shot because he was black.

As for Zimmerman's record, the Sanford Police Department tells News 13 they do not run background checks on neighborhood watch captains, a volunteer position.

They also say Zimmerman had a weapons permit.

The Sanford Police Department is wrapping up their investigation on this case.

“There are no winners in this event, especially for the Martin family and the community. We just want the community to know that the Sanford Police Department will do a fair and complete investigation in any case so that we can reach a fair and just decision,” said Lee.

It's been handed over to state prosecutors, who will then make a decision on whether or not to charge Zimmerman with this death.