Ohio cop fired for 2019 shooting of teen shoplifting suspect

An Ohio police officer has been fired for shooting a teenage shoplifting suspect in June 2019.

Blake Rogers, a Beachwood Police Department employee since 2013, was ordered terminated immediately Monday for violating multiple departmental polices in the shooting, according to Beachwood Mayor Martin Horwitz’s letter Monday, shared with the Daily News.

The letter, addressed to the former cop, came on the heels of last Thursday’s disciplinary hearing where claims made on behalf of Rogers were disputed by evidence, including video.

Rogers violated multiple sections of the department’s use of force policy as well as the department’s standards of conduct, including committing unsafe acts or endangering self or others and dishonesty or untruthfulness, according to the letter.

“Upon carefully reviewing the evidence, your arguments, and the recommendation of Chief Stillman, the City finds you guilty of all charges. The City finds the charges warrant (and constitute just cause for) termination,” the note read.

“Instead, the evidence demonstrates you (1) failed to properly perform your duties as it relates to the officer involved shooting on June 27, 2019 and (2) were not entirely honest and forthcoming about the shooting,” wrote Horwitz, who also serves as Safety Director.

“Your use of deadly force against the shoplifter of a $60 hat with bystanders (including children) in close proximity violated City policies. Your arguments are contradicted by the video evidence and third-party witnesses.”

Rogers shot suspect Jaquan Jones, then 19, in the parking lot of the Beachwood Place mall, about 22 miles east of Cleveland, after reports the teen had stolen a $59 hat from Dillard’s, according to 19 News.

Back in October, Rogers and his wife filed a suit against Horwitz and others, including former police Chief Gary Haba and law director Diane Calta, alleging city officials denied the former cop of family medical leave following the birth of a child, Cleveland.com reports.

Rogers also claimed in the suit that he faced “disparate treatment after using justifiable, necessary and lawful force” in the shooting.

As a result of the filing, the city’s administration declined to comments to The News.