The Waynesboro Police department released the results of its internal investigation into an officer shooting at the vehicle driven by 26-year-old Ian Kasdan on October 6.

The following is the entire release:

"As a result of a traffic stop and subsequent pursuit on October 6, 2008, at approximately 8:30 pm, an inquiry was initiated into the actions of a Waynesboro Police Department officer who shot at the pursued vehicle. The vehicle was driven by Ian Daniel Kasdan, 26 years-of-age, whose address is listed as 126 West Grattan Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

"The incident started when Kasdan’s vehicle was stopped and the officer involved asked for a driver’s license and registration which Kasdan allegedly did not provide. Instead, Kasdan allegedly identified himself with a false driver’s license number and, when the first number did not check out, allegedly provided a second false driver’s license number. The officer had also noticed that the car was running but had no key in the ignition switch. The officer attempted to take Kasdan into custody but Kasdan allegedly emerged from his car with a tire iron in his hand and threatened to strike the officer. The officer retreated, drew his pistol and called for additional help from nearby officers. The officers later involved in the shooting, riding together in the same car, responded to the call for assistance. During the standoff at the traffic stop scene, Kasdan allegedly told the officer he “was not going back to jail”. As the first backup officer arrived on the scene, Kasdan put the car in reverse and struck the police car being driven by the officer who made the initial stop. Kasdan allegedly then sped off with other officers in pursuit. The officers joined the pursuit on 13th Street near South Magnolia Avenue. During the pursuit, the officers tried to position themselves to deploy tire deflations devices but were unable to do so.

"The pursuit wound its way through several neighborhoods, namely, the Tree Streets, Downtown, Port Republic Road, Wayne Hills and New Hope Road before arriving at the Kate Collins Middle School parking lot. Kasdan allegedly drove onto the lower lot and turned around on the western end to travel back eastward. The officers stopped their car in the same parking lot lane of travel. Kasdan had enough space to go around the stopped police car on either side but instead rammed the police car in the passenger’s front side, disabling the police car. Kasdan momentarily came to a stop. Both officers immediately got out of their disabled police car and, with guns drawn and trained on Kasdan, ordered him to stop, turn off the car and surrender. Kasdan did not stop and instead struck another police car that had stopped behind him while he backed up away from the officers. Neither officer elected to fire their weapons at Kasdan, which was commendable. Kasdan allegedly then attempted to ram a third car at which time the Patrol Shift Commander gave the order to aggressively stop Kasdan.

"The pursuit continued on the Kate Collins lot for a few minutes during which time the officer, who was on foot, positioned himself near one of the exits onto Ivy Street. As Kasdan was leaving the parking lot to travel west on Ivy Street, he drove right past the officer’s position. Citizen witnesses report that as Kasdan drove to within six to ten feet of the officer, the officer fired two carefully aimed gunshots from his pistol at the left front tire of Kasdan’s vehicle. One bullet passed through the tire and may be the bullet found on the parking lot near where the shots were fired. The second bullet was not recovered. The gunshots did not immediately stop Kasdan’s vehicle which exited the Kate Collins School parking lot shortly thereafter.

"Kasdan allegedly drove west on Ivy Street followed closely by a Waynesboro officer who used his police car to intentionally bump Kasdan’s vehicle and spin it around in the street as Kasdan approached the intersection of Ivy Street and Hopeman Parkway. Other officers from the Waynesboro PD and Augusta County Sheriff’s Office were able to block the path of Kasdan’s car. Before Kasdan could escape again, Officers and Deputies broke the passenger window and used a TASER to subdue Kasdan and take him into custody.

"The officer was placed on paid administrative leave, in accordance with Waynesboro PD policy, following the shooting incident. The officer returned to his normal duties on October 15, 2008. During this time, an internal investigation into the shooting was conducted. The policy of the Waynesboro Police Department concerning shooting at vehicles is as follows. “Shooting at a motor vehicle with the intent to stop or disable it is prohibited unless you are justified…in using deadly force against all occupants of the motor vehicle.” The reason for this policy is shooting at a car is generally an ineffective way to stop a car and can put the occupants at risk of themselves being shot, possibly unintentionally. The investigation revealed that the officer was not willing to use deadly force against Kasdan personally, but was trying to use his firearm to deflate the tire in an effort to stop the vehicle. However, this does not conform to our policy statement and the shooting was handled through Departmental administrative processes.

"This incident strenuously tested the training and abilities of the officers involved. The ability of the officers to use deadly force against Kasdan is persuasively arguable either way. During the review of this incident, good arguments for both decisions could be made. The officer’s decision to use restraint and not use deadly force against Kasdan was in keeping with the overall goal of the Waynesboro Police Department to first preserve life, which is commendable."