Officer cleared in shooting

A High Springs police officer who shot and killed a man at the community school on May 18, 2011, has been found to be justified in the shooting.  The investigation and review, conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Alachua County sheriff’s office, and the High Springs police department was referred to state attorney Bill Cervone.  Cervone concluded that Sgt. Charles Harper used deadly force in “legitimate and self defense and defense of others”.  In a letter to Sgt. Harper, police chief James Troiano said his actions demonstrated heroism and valor, as “you risked your life to stop the actions of a man determined to cause harm to himself and others”.