Post Falls officers justified in March 12 shooting |

Prosecutors have ruled that Post Falls police officers were justified in the shooting of Justin Todd following a high speed pursuit through Hayden on March 12, 2012.

The Post Falls Police Department announced Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall had found that the officers, "acted appropriately and in accordance with the law under the particular circumstances of the incident."

On March 12, officers with the Post Falls Police Department were assisting the Idaho State Police in a vehicle pursuit after the regional License Plate Recognition system registered a hit against a vehicle owned by Todd on Interstate 90. At the time Todd was wanted by the Kootenai County Violent Crimes Task Force.

Todd had a felony warrant out for his arrest and officers were wanted they should exercise caution dealing with him.

An ISP trooper located Todd near Highway 41 and Seltice Way and when he tried to stop Todd he refused to stop. Two Post Falls police officers joined in the pursuit, which went through Post Falls into Coeur d'Alene before ending in Hayden.

After attempting to stop Todd several times using a pit maneuver, his vehicle came to a stop in a yard at the end of St. Estephe Court. The ISP trooper, along with Post Falls officers Aaron Ogle and Brad Johnson moved forward to Todd's car, weapons drawn and attempted to take him into custody. Todd, however, backed his car up and accelerated toward the trooper.

Both Ogle and Johnson opened fire to stop Todd from running over the trooper, who was injured when the vehicle hit him.

Todd was shot and killed.

Following an investigation conducted by the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department and the Coeur d'Alene Police Department, their findings were sent to Prosecutor Marshall in Bonner County who found on Tuesday the shooting was justified.

"I am of the opinion that the officers associated with this situation handled the incident in a lawful manner. Thus I do not believe that criminal legal action should be taken by the State of Idaho against the officers involved,” Marshall said.