LT. John Stewart
Officer: Lake City Police Department, Lieutenant John Stewart
Date: 9/17/2021 Location: Lake City, SC FACTORS (1,2,8,11,21)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Jermaine Ryan Roberson
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Roberson was convicted in 2012 of assault and battery 1st degree; arrested Feb 2020 for domestic violence 1st degree, assault and battery 3rd degree, assault and battery 2nd degree, weapons/pointing and presenting firearms at a person./Roberson was fleeing from police trying to stop him for a vehicle and traffic violation.
Mental Illness: None reported.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown./None reported.
Race/Sex/Age: Black/Male/29
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? On September 17, 2021, a Lake City police officer attempted to pull over a vehicle being driven by Jermaine Ryan Roberson for a registration violation.
Actions taken by subject toward police: Roberson refused to pull over and instead took the police on a pursuit during which time he crashed into Lt. John Stewart, killing him. Roberson than jumped out of his vehicle and carjacked another vehicle, threatening the owner that he was armed and driving off with them in the car before eventually forcing them out.
Reactions by the police: A deputy sheriff spotted Roberson driving the stolen vehicle shortly after, gave chase and successfully used the PIT (Pursuit Intervention Technique) to run him off the road and arrest him.
How murdered? Lt. Stewart was run over by a suspect fleeing police in a vehicle pursuit.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? It is doubtful Lt. Stewart could have done anything different but the Judge who released Roberson on bond could have increased the amount so the violent recidivist criminal would have still been in jail pending trial for his latest charges.
Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? Any officer would be justified to use deadly force when they see a vehicle purposefully being driven at them.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Roberson was arrested and has been charged with “reckless homicide, involuntary manslaughter, hit and run resulting in death and failure to stop for blue light resulting in death”, “kidnapping, first-degree assault and battery, and carjacking.”
Miscellaneous: This is yet another case of one of our law enforcement officers being murdered by a violent career criminal who should have been in jail instead of free to wreak havoc on society.
