Sarasota Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting. It happened around 6:30 p.m. Saturday on the 2400 block of Bay Street.
The newly-appointed Sarasota PD Chief Jim Rieser revealed during a news conference that two people are dead from the shooting and that one of his officers saw it all happen in front of him. That officer is unharmed and placed on administrative leave per the agency's policy as they investigate.
It marks the first officer-involved shooting for the agency since April of 2018.
Chief Rieser was just appointed a week ago on January 29, after the public resignation of his predecessor. The chief said witnesses called 911 around 6:30 p.m. after hearing a woman screaming and then gunshots. When the officer arrived, he saw a man, later identified as 52-year-old Scott Tiati, with a gun and witnessed as he shot and killed a woman. That unnamed officer then fired at him.
“I’ve been here 29 years. You don’t want anybody hurt citizens or the officers," said Chief Rieser. "I love everybody at the Sarasota Police Department. These are hard-working men and women both our civilians and our sworn staff. This is a tragedy that occurred tonight."
Chief Rieser says they are investigating whether the suspect died from the officer’s gun or whether he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The agency plans to launch a body camera program this year.
Tiati and the woman did know one another, according to police.
Sarasota Police detectives are asking anyone with any information regarding this case to contact Detective Kim Laster with the Sarasota Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (941) 263-6827, or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or online
Per Sarasota Police Department policy, the patrol officer who fired their duty weapon has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues.
