No charges will be filed against the seven members of the Highlands County Sheriff's Special Response Team involved in the Jan. 29 fatal shooting of a Lake Placid man.
Maj. Mark Schrader said Monday that Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin reviewed the findings from the criminal investigation and on Feb. 25 told Sheriff Susan Benton that the shooting was ruled justified.
The deputies also were reinstated to full duty that day, Schrader said. The major had earlier recommended to Benton that they be put on administrative duties until the state attorney's office could review the case.
All seven were placed on paid administrative leave following the shooting of 60-year-old Rocky Allen Watson in the woods behind Sunflower Avenue in Sun 'n Lakes after family members called dispatch saying he had just shot someone.
When Watson was found in the woods, he was reportedly armed with several swords and a firearm. He refused to put down his weapons, and law enforcement tried to subdue him with a Taser, but that was when he threw one of the swords and hit one of the SRT members in the head, according to the HCSO.
The SRT then opened fire and killed Watson.
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