Four Garden Grove police officers have been cleared of any misconduct in the death of a 76-year-old man in 2011.
The Orange County District Attorney’s office on Friday released a report exonerating the officers in the suicide death of Edward Royle of Garden Grove on Sept. 9, 2011.
According to the report. “it is our legal opinion that there is no evidence of any criminal culpability on the part” of the officers, and that their actions were “reasonable and justified under the circumstances.”
Police were summoned to Royale’s home where he was threatening to shoot himself because of lingering health problems. After a prolonged standoff, police fired “less-than-lethal” beanbag-style rounds at the man, and at one point opened fire with conventional firearms, fearing that he might begin shooting at officers.
Royle was not struck by police fire, and finally put the gun to his right temple and pulled the trigger.
