DA clears Upland police in officer-involved shooting

Prosecutors from the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office have cleared two Upland police officers of legal wrongdoing in a June police shooting that ended in a suspect's suicide, according to a news release issued today.

Officers Kevin Cushman and Travis Cotton were legally justified when they opened fire June 24 on Jordan Roberts, 18, as Roberts reached for a handgun that he then used to kill himself, according to prosecutors.

Read 8-page summary of DA review: JordanRobertsReport.pdf

The officers went to Roberts' home in the 1100 block of Kirby Court with a search warrant at about 5:45 p.m., and they intended to arrest Roberts on suspicion of having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

Roberts had admitted having sex with the girl in phone conversations monitored by police, and he also said he would kill himself rather than face arrest and prosecution, according to a Jan. 5 memo written by prosecutors who reviewed the case.

When officers arrived at Roberts' home, Roberts' housemates told police that Roberts was in an upstairs bathroom, prosecutors said.

Officers searched the house, yelling several times for anyone inside to come out with their hands up. No one came out. Officers went to the bathroom, found the door locked, and heard the sound of someone moving inside, prosecutors said.

The officers kicked open the bathroom door and saw Roberts inside. Roberts reached for a handgun on top of the toilet, and the officers opened fire.

One shot hit Roberts in the right leg, and the other shot missed the suspect, shattering the glass shower door.

Roberts shot himself on the right side of his head above his ear, prosecutors said, and was later pronounced dead at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.