Sandy MaloneOrlando, FL – Orlando police officials released bodycam video of a terrifying shootout that occurred when a driver ambushed officers during a traffic stop in May (video below).
The incident occurred on May 18 when two uniformed Orlando police officers on patrol in an unmarked vehicle saw an SUV pass another vehicle at a high rate of speed in a no passing zone, WFTV reported.
“He’s moving around a lot,” the officer who was driving commented in the bodycam video as he stopped his unmarked police vehicle.
The female officer riding shotgun opened her door as soon as the vehicle stopped.
Bodycam video captured the sound of gunfire erupting before the officer had even gotten completely out of the car.
The female officer dropped to the ground and concealed herself behind the passenger door of the patrol vehicle and pulled out her weapon.
Then she backed away while she returned fire at the suspect, the video showed.
Bodycam video from the officer who was driving showed he jumped out of the car and returned fire a split second after the gunfire erupted.
He fired all of the bullets in his gun and was reloading when the suspect fled in his gold Cadillac SUV.
Bodycam captured the conversation between the officers as they watched the suspect’s vehicle crash a couple blocks away.
The video showed most of the glass in the unmarked police car had been shattered by gunfire.
“I almost got shot,” the female officer told her partner in the video.
“I know,” he replied.
“That was pretty bad,” the female officer added.
Additional police and sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene where the driver of the suspect vehicle was lying on the ground beside his wrecked SUV suffering from gunshot wounds, WFTV reported.
Officers immediately began rendering aid to the suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Carlos Delano Dafill Roberts Jr.
Roberts was transported to the hospital where he died two weeks later, WFTV reported.
The two officers involved in the incident have been placed on paid administrative leave while an investigation is conducted, as is protocol for all officer-involved shootings.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is heading up the investigation, WFTV reported.
“Officer involved shootings touch not only the officers and families involved, but the department and the community as well,” Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón said in a statement on Thursday.
“Today we have released the body worn camera video of the Orlando Police Department’s officer-involved shooting that occurred on May 18th, 2022, involving Mr. Carlos Roberts, Jr. The incident occurred at Mercy Drive and Lake Lawne Avenue,” Chief Rolón said.
“At this time, the independent investigation by FDLE remains in progress and once completed, the findings will be sent to the State Attorney’s Office,” the police chief continued. “After the State’s review, the findings will be sent to the Orlando Police Department and the Internal Affairs investigation will proceed.”
He said Roberts’ family had been given the opportunity to see the bodycams before they were released to the public, WFTV reported.
Watch the incident unfold in the videos below. WARNING – Graphic Content:
Holly Matkin
