No charges for New Hanover detectives in shooting death of suspect at traffic stop

Three New Hanover County Sheriff's Office detectives who discharged their firearms in a fatal shooting at the intersection of S. Kerr Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard will not face charges following an investigation.

Steven Ryan Todd, who was suspected of having stolen property and eluding law enforcement among other offenses, was located via traffic stop in Wilmington on June 13 around 11 p.m. Considered armed and dangerous, the suspect did not comply with commands and looked to reach for a weapon. Detectives perceived a threat and opened fire on Todd.

A search in the truck revealed a loaded handgun, as well as a loaded shotgun in the truck bed's toolbox.

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"The picture that emerges from reviewing all of the evidence in this case is clear: Todd’s actionsthreatened the lives of the multiple deputies and any citizens in that area," District Attorney Ben David said via news release on Friday. "Detectives acted appropriately under the law when they used deadly force to protect themselves and those around them."

Around 1:30 p.m. on June 13, a Wilmington resident reported that his Ford F-150 truck, 24-foot boat, double axel trailer, and two firearms were stolen out of his fenced backyard on Rogersville Road, Wilmington, Assistant District Attorney Jason Smith said at a news conference on Friday. A moped left behind at the scene, registered to Todd, allowed officers with the Wilmington Police Department to identify a suspect in the larceny.

Around 7 p.m. that same day, an off-duty detective, identified by Smith as Detective Shingleton, observed the stolen boat at the Dram Tree Park boat ramp at 602 Surry St. in Wilmington. After calling 911 dispatch to report the boat, Shingleton noticed a vehicle matching the description of the stolen truck backed into a parking space on the property, with the suspect standing nearby.

Wilmington police officers responded to the scene, Smith said. Shingleton identified himself as law enforcement and confronted Todd as he was driving away. Todd attempted to hit Shingleton twice as he attempted to flee the scene.

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Wilmington police officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, Smith said. Todd did not comply and fled in his vehicle down South Front Street, Carolina Beach Road, and onto Shipyard Boulevard, reaching speeds of approximately 110 miles per hour. Police called off the pursuit due to concerns of safety for the public and involved officers.

Felony arrest warrants, including charges of assault with a deadly weapon, fleeing to elude arrest, assault on a government official, and possession of a stolen motor vehicle, Smith said. A "be on the lookout" warning for Todd was issued to local law enforcement.

Around 11 p.m., detectives located Todd near the intersection of South Kerr Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard, Smith said. Four vehicles with six detectives responded to the scene. As Todd's vehicle entered the intersection of Wilshire and South Kerr, a New Hanover County Sheriff's Office detective, identified by Smith as Detective Shearl, tried to immobilize the vehicle by running into the left rear side of the truck. A detective, identified by Smith as Detective Atkins, exited his vehicle and approached Todd's truck on foot.

The collision between Shearl and Todd's vehicle caused Todd's truck to spin 180 degrees, Smith said. Todd put his vehicle in reverse and backed onto a small embankment near the parking lot of the Harris Teeter grocery store.

All side curtain airbags in Todd's vehicle deployed, Smith said. Three detectives, identified by Smith as Detective Tello Detective Naughten, and Detective Hill, approached Todd's vehicle on foot and drew their firearms. Detective Hill heard the engine of Todd's vehicle reving as he approached.

The detectives issued multiple verbal commands for Todd to show his hands, Smith said. Looking inside of the vehicle from the rear passenger side door, with a partially obstructed view due to the deployed airbags, Atkins saw Todd "moving in a manner that suggested he was reaching for something."

Tello, Naughten, and Hill, positioned at the front of the vehicle, issued verbal commands for Todd to show his hands, Smith said. Todd did not comply and "kept bending over to his right and back as though he was searching or reaching for something in the front passenger area or in the rear passenger area of the vehicle."

"After Todd failed to heed commands and continued to reach for something all three detectives, that being detectives Naughten, Hill, and Tello believed their lives were in danger and opened fire," Smith said.

Tello was armed with a FMP9 9mm short-barreled rifle and Naughten and Hill were armed with 9mm Glock 45 handguns, according to the statement of facts released by the New Hanover County District Attorney's Office. A total of 51 shots were fired and Todd was struck 28 times. Atkins and Tello performed CPR on Todd until EMS arrived on scene, however, Todd died as a result of his injuries.

"These detectives were fully justified at that point in using deadly force," David said at Friday's press conference. "A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed the stolen Glock 9 handgun was on the floorboard of the rear passenger area, the same area that Todd had be groping around for."