20-115 ***UPDATE – Sheriff Completes Taskforce Investigation*** Detectives Investigate Officer-Involved Shooting in St. Petersburg
Taskforce Investigation Complete
Update as of 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 2020
On August 7, 2020 the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Taskforce responded to investigate the St. Petersburg Police Department officer-involved shooting of 55-year-old Jeffrey Haarsma.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was the Supervising Agency for this Taskforce investigation. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri was responsible for reviewing evidence, supervising the investigation and making determinations.
The findings of that investigation were delivered to St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway, and can be downloaded at the link provided.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-3jtfmjdmkDDJcTrJ-111DKPrjyyxUGy/view?usp=sharing
***END OF UPDATE***
Update as of 9:46 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2020
Jeffrey Scott Haarsma (Suspect – Deceased)
DOB: 3/8/1965
Address: 4050 4th Street North, St. Petersburg
Detectives assigned to the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force have notified the suspect’s next of kin. He is identified as 55-year-old Jeffrey Haarsma.
***END OF UPDATE***
***Original News Release***
Who:
Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force
-Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
-Clearwater Police Department
-Pinellas Park Police Department
State Attorney’s Office – Sixth Judicial Circuit
St. Petersburg Police Department
St. Petersburg Police Officer Alison Savarese (Officer – Uninjured)
Age: 32-years-old
Date of hire: August 8, 2016
What:
Detectives assigned to the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force are investigating an officer-involved shooting in the City of St. Petersburg.
When:
The shooting occurred at about 8:57 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2020.
Where:
The shooting occurred at the French Quarter Condos located at 4050 4th Street North in St. Petersburg.
Why/How:
Detectives assigned to the Use of Deadly Force Task Force are investigating an officer-involved shooting in the City of St. Petersburg.
According to investigators, St. Petersburg police officers were dispatched to 4050 4th Street North in reference to a neighbor dispute. While investigating, the suspect, a 55-year-old male, exited the front door of his second floor residence.
Detectives say Officer Alison Savarese climbed the stairs to the second floor landing to speak with him. The suspect quickly walked towards Officer Savarese in an aggressive manner. When Officer Savarese attempted to detain the suspect, he shoved her backwards and a struggle ensued.
Investigators say the officer and the suspect went to the ground while fighting and when they stood up, the suspect grabbed the officer’s throat and squeezed. Officer Savarese could not breathe and began to notice the suspect was tugging on her belt.
Detectives say Officer Savarese, fearing for her life, fired two rounds at the suspect while she was being actively choked.
The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Next of kin has not been notified.
Officer Savarese will be placed on routine administrative leave.
Sheriff Gualtieri held a press conference on scene and it can be found at: https://youtu.be/_WoYYueciSE
The investigation continues.
