A Citrus County Sheriff's Office deputy who shot and killed a suspect during a March 23 disturbance in Crystal River has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

The ruling comes after an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and a review of that investigation by Assistant State Attorney Richard Ridgway and final approval by State Attorney Brad King.

Killed by Deputy Todd Cridland was Dominic James Giacobbe, 26. His family had bought a Greyhound bus ticket for him with a destination of New Mexico. But when the bus made a stop in Crystal River on March 22 to drop off one passenger and pick up another, Giacobbe got off the bus and wandered along U.S. 19.

Giacobbe encountered sheriff's deputies three times that night.

The first encounter was at a convenience store on U.S. 19 at about 8:30 p.m., when the clerk told deputies his demeanor changed from "quiet" and "shy" to "agitated", "aggressive" and "irritated." Deputies questioned him, and then issued him a trespass warning.

The second encounter with deputies came while a deputy was directing traffic at the scene of a traffic crash just up U.S. 19. As the officer was performing his duties there, Giacobbe walked by and starting talking with him, telling the officer he was an angel, and is said to have asked the officer if he would "put a bullet in my head" if he were attacked by demons. But after further questioning, the officer didn't feel Giacobbe, who hadn't expressed thoughts of hurting himself or others, qualified to be committed involuntarily under the state's Baker Act. The deputy later saw Giacobbe walking along U.S. 19 and stopped to ask how he was doing. During that conversation, Giacobbe still didn't appear to be a danger to himself or others in the officer's opinion, the FDLE investigation said.

Giacobbe went to a bar at about 11:15 p.m., ordered a pitcher of beer and drank about half of it, talking while he was there about angels and demons, of being an 2,000-year-old angel and that there were people who wanted to kill and eat him.

At about 11:45 a.m., Giacobbe went to a fast food restaurant on U.S. 19 and, in the restaurant manager's opinion, acted suspiciously.

At a 1:20 a.m. on March 23, a motorist traveling south in the center lane on U.S. 19 saw Giacobbe in the median of the roadway and moved to the right lane, but Giacobbe ran into that lane, the investigation said. When the motorist veered left to avoid Giacobbe, he ran into that lane, too. Somehow, the motorist was able to veer around Giacobbe and called 911.

When deputies responded, it was the third time that night that Giacobbe encountered law enforcement officers.

Deputies saw Giacobbe in the middle of the road, and asked for him to come to the median, but he refused. Shortly thereafter, Giacobbe bent at the waist and removed a knife from his waistband. When Deputy Davis (a K-9 handler) saw the knife, he let loose his canine deputy, Mito. Giacobbe stabbed the dog in its side, and the wounded animal retreated to the patrol car.

Giacobbe then turned toward Davis and ran at him with the knife. Giacobbe was too close to Davis as the charge began for the deputy to get his gun out of his holster fast enough, and he was forced to back away from Giacobbe.

Giacobbe is then said to have charged toward Cridland with the knife. Cridland backed up as far as he could without hitting the curb of the road and falling over backward, then fired a single shot at Giacobbe. But Giacobbe continued to charge, and Cridland fired six shots in rapid succession, all of which struck Giacobbe - three in the front and three in the back. The trajectories at which they were fired, the FDLE investigation said, suggested the bullets' locations were due to Giacobbe spinning around as a result of his own momentum and the impact of the first bullets.

Assistant State Attorney Ridgway said in the final report that Cridland's actions were consistent with his training; that is, to fire until he perceived the threat was gone. Ridgway also said that Cridland was allowed to use deadly force if he reasonably believed it was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself.

Toxicology results of an autopsy performed on Giacobbe revealed the presence of a drug in Giacobbe's system commonly prescribed to treat schizophrenia and acute psychotic states. The drug was haloperidol, sold under the trade name Haldol.

The FDLE investigation also says Giacobbe had a lengthy criminal history, including imprisonment for Battery by a Detainee. He also was found to have a mental health history, and had been committed under the Backer Act on Feb. 21 in Hillsborough County. The final report issued by the State Attorney says the family had subsequently attempted to have him recommitted, but he was found to not meet the criteria for emergency committment in Hillsborough County.

In the conclusion of the report, Ridgway says, "It is my opinion that Deputy Cridland was reasonably in fear of imminent death or great bodily harm, and that the use of deadly force was necessary to prevent it. Accordingly, I recommend this office take no further action in the matter."

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