Six Orlando Police officers have been cleared of wrongdoing in three separate shooting incidents that took place this year.
- 6 Orlando cops cleared in separate 2016 shooting incidents
- All officers were determined to be acting in self-defense
Officers Tino Cruz and Sonja Saunders were cleared in the Jan. 18 shooting of 28-year-old Eric Provost. In that incident, Provost approached officers with what was later determined to be a pellet gun and refused to drop it. Provost later died.
In the same month, Officers Justin Lay, Clarence Eide and Steven Farris were all cleared in the Jan. 29 shooting of Danielle Evans, a carjacking suspect who police say crashed into several patrol cars at the intersection of South Street and Bumby Avenue. The officers then fired into Evans' windshield, hitting her in the arm.
And Orlando Police Officer Rafael Ospina was cleared in the shooting of 23-year-old Daniel Robles on April 13. Investigators said Robles shot a bystander while trying to shoot at Ospina. The officer fired back, hitting Robles twice. Robles suffered non-life-threatening injuries to his abdomen and hand. The bystander was treated for a minor injury.
In each case, the State Attorney's Office reviewed investigations by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and determined that the officers acted in self-defense.