Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 11/17/05

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - (707) 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

OFFICER JUSTIFIED IN ROHNERT PARK SHOOTING

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that his office has completed its review of the shooting death of Terry Lee Grinner, Jr. on January 28, 2005, by Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Officer Jacy Tatum.

Based on the totality of the circumstances and the officer’s actual and reasonable belief that he was in imminent danger of great bodily injury and death, the District Attorney concluded that Officer Tatum responded appropriately. District Attorney Passalacqua stated, "This was a tragedy for all concerned and is another example of how the use of methamphetamine can lead to tragic results."

Officer Tatum attempted to stop a vehicle being driven by Mr. Grinner for a traffic violation. Grinner, with several passengers in the car, did not yield to the patrol vehicle’s lights and siren and evaded officers throughout several square blocks of the city. Grinner reached speeds of up to 70 MPH and committed numerous traffic violations before crashing the vehicle into a tree.

Officer Tatum observed Mr. Grinner exit his vehicle with a handgun and run into an apartment complex. Officer Tatum pursued Grinner, ordered him to stop several times, deployed his Taser, and drew his baton at times during the pursuit. Grinner did not yield to the commands. Officer Tatum drew his firearm when he saw Grinner still had a handgun.

While running, Mr. Grinner fell to the pavement and the gun fell from his hand. As Grinner attempted to reach for the gun, Officer Tatum repeatedly ordered him to "stop" and "freeze." Instead, Grinner regained possession of his gun and turned to the officer with the gun in both hands and pointed it at Officer Tatum. From a distance of approximately ten feet, Officer Tatum discharged two rounds from his firearm, one striking Mr. Grinner in the torso.

The pathologist concluded that Grinner died of a single gunshot wound that penetrated his posterior chest wall and thoracic aorta. A toxicology exam of Mr. Grinner’s blood revealed a level of methamphetamine of 0.86 mg/L, a potentially toxic amount. Pursuant to a county protocol, the Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation.