Fernandina Beach Police Department
Press Release
James T. Hurley, Chief
April 30, 2015 4:41 p.m.
Officer Jason Smith, a nine year veteran of the Fernandina Beach Police Department has been identified by the department as the officer involved in the police pursuit and shooting of a Brunswick, GA man on Monday morning.
Officer Smith, twice recognized as the Police Officer of the Year by the Fernandina Beach Police Department, and three times commended by Mothers Against Drunk Driver’s (MADD), began pursuing Randy Scott Lingelbach as he fled the scene of an armed robbery at the island Walmart store on South 14th Street at about 10:45 AM. As evidenced by the officer’s in-car video, Lingelbach demonstrated reckless abandon as he drove his black Dodge Ram truck off the roadway several times, through parking lots and across occupied sidewalks, fishtailing out of control at high rates of speed, before blasting through construction barricades on Bonnieview Road, eventually attempting to ram responding officers.
Lingelbach remains in critical condition at UF Health in Jacksonville. His passenger, Laura Rebecca Harden, was released on Monday after medical treatment at Baptist Nassau and after being questioned by agents of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). She was apparently arrested last night in Glynn County, GA and is charged with felony drug possession.
The video from several Walmart store cameras show the confrontation with the suspect in the parking lot and was released to the media yesterday.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is continuing to work the investigation as an independent law enforcement agency, at our request and through an established Mutual Aid Agreement. Officer Smith has given a statement to investigators and will return to work on Friday. His training and personnel files are available for review upon request.
Good job and thank you officer Smith for stopping this criminal before he hurt innocent people. Job well done.
He is a wonderful human being and a dedicated Police 9fficer.
This press release needs further investigation/follow-up. The News Leader article indicated that this was a “retail theft”. After being detained by Walmart employees, Mr. Scott apparently threatened them with a hypodermic needle and escaped. This appears to be a second offense, likely assault. It’s unclear where the “armed robbery” charge applies to this situation. Also unclear – what were the events that led up to shooting Mr. Scott as opposed to a less lethal response? In any event, THANKS to the FB police for their quick and effective response.
Perhaps the first press release issued by the Fernandina Police Department and posted by the Fernandina Observer will be helpful. Here is the link http://fernandinaobserver.org/2015/04/27/robbery-suspect-shot-by-police-after-pursuit/
Armed Robbery is defined in Florida as the criminal act of stealing another person’s property, without consent, while in the possession of a weapon such as a gun or knife. I would suspect that since the guy brandished a syringe/need and threatened the employee(s) that would qualify as a weapon.
An officer never wants to discharge their weapon but this seems to be out of his mind on drugs and was trying to escape pursuit by any means. While he was in the ditch, the report says he already tried to run over or hit the officers, and he was spinning the wheels trying to extract himself. I’m sure the officer felt his life or the life of fellow officers was in danger and had to shoot. Since he was in the car it would have been difficult to hit anything but his head. Anyway, the FDLE investigation will sort it all out.
Thanks Co-Editor and Dave. I re-read the first press release and saw nothing about attempting to harm the officers, only that Scott refused to surrender. I had the same educated guesses about why this MIGHT be armed robbery, but read no additional details as to what ACTUALLY precipitated these escalated charges. I look forward to the FDLE report to fill in the details. At any rate, I’m glad that Scott is in custody and that no one else was injured.
WELL DONE OFFICER. I am sure Jason Smith did not rise and shine that morning with “Today someone is going to get shot”, – highly unlikely. He did however put on his uniform and go out to work and part of that uniform includes a gun. Thieves and addicts have a different mind set, threatening people who have caught them stealing, fleeing and driving erratically endangering lives and threatening a cop? NOT a good choice….. BANG.
If you see Officer Smith buy him a coffee and thank him from all of us. Thanks to everyone who helped. Pray for all.
Thank you officer!
My apologies to Co-Editor. I re-read (again) the part about the threat in the parking lot. Somehow I previously thought that the threat occurred after Scott was detained IN the store.
Another criminal off the streets….Thanks Jason