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Inquiry finds shooting justified

By TImes staff writer
Published January 12, 2007

One of the police officers who shot at Angilo Freeland was justified in discharging his weapon, a finding by the state attorney's office says.

Freeland, 27, was shot 68 times after deputies found him hiding in the woods in Lakeland on Sept. 29.

Freeland had been the object of a massive police manhunt that began Sept. 28, after he allegedly killed Polk County sheriff's Deputy Vernon Matthew Williams, 39, and his canine partner during a routine traffic stop.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, Lakeland police Sgt. Jeff Birdwell responded to the scene of the original Sept. 28 encounter and exchanged gunfire with Freeland. Birdwell fired at Freeland only after Freeland shot at him, state attorney spokesman Chip Thullbery said. Birdwell's bullet did not hit Freeland, but sent him running into the woods.

Thullbery said Thursday's finding is the first and only one so far in an ongoing investigation of the events leading to Freeland's death.

The FBI is investigating whether authorities used excessive force when they shot Freeland. A Florida Civil Rights Association's complaint alleges that authorities showed disregard for human life when they shot Freeland after an all-night manhunt.

[Last modified January 12, 2007, 05:38:28]