James Edward Smillie, a 53-year-old white male, died on June 6, 2015, in North Port, Florida, following an officer-involved shooting. The incident began when North Port Police responded to a domestic disturbance call at Smillie's residence. Two family members managed to leave the home unharmed, and police set up a perimeter around the property. Sgt.
Mike Laden communicated with Smillie via cell phone, attempting to de-escalate the situation.
At some point, Smillie exited his home and walked through neighboring yards, eventually confronting Sgt. Laden on Alam Avenue. Smillie was armed with a rifle and ordered Laden to drop his backpack and flashlight. Laden managed to convince Smillie to drop his rifle, but as additional officers arrived to assist, Smillie reached for additional weapons visible in his shorts. Sgt. Laden, perceiving an imminent threat, fired at Smillie, resulting in his death.
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office conducted an investigation into the shooting. Sgt. Laden was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The Sheriff's Office reported that Smillie had reached for a firearm during the confrontation, justifying Laden's use of deadly force. No arrests or charges were filed against Sgt. Laden, and the case was deemed a justified shooting.
This tragic incident highlights the complexities and dangers faced by law enforcement officers during domestic disturbance calls. The investigation concluded that Sgt. Laden acted in self-defense, and no further legal actions were taken against him.
