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St. Pete Police Review Finds Fatal Feb. 10 Shooting Was Justified

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Published: March 26, 2009

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Julie Goodson

Wendy Ott

Two St. Petersburg police officers were justified in their use of deadly force in the Feb. 10 shooting of a woman who threatened another person with a large barbecue fork.

That was the ruling of an internal review released today by the St. Petersburg Police Department that cleared Officer Robert Virant and Sgt. Joseph Collins in the fatal shooting of Julie Goodson.

The shooting took place at 9:35 p.m. at the home of Wendy Ott, 5237 Second Ave. N.
Goodson, who used to live there, was invited by Ott that evening to have leftovers, according to a Feb. 25 letter from the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office that also determined the two officers were justified in the shooting.

Goodson brought with her a 12-pack of beer, which she and Ott drank. At some point, Goodson became agitated and blamed Ott for all her problems, the state attorney's office said.

The argument escalated and Virant, Collins and five other officers were called to the scene. When they became aware that someone inside sounded like they were in distress, the officers forced their way inside the home, according to a memorandum released today by St. Petersburg police Chief Chuck Harmon.

The officers saw Ott lying on the kitchen floor and Goodson sitting on top of her, Harmon said. Goodson had pinned Ott and held a large barbecue fork to her neck.

Collins told Ott to put the fork down but she did not, Harmon said. Officers tried to talk to Goodson and calm her down, according to the report. Goodson got angry and shouted that she wanted a cell phone.

Goodson then appeared as if she was going to stab Ott in the neck, Harmon's memo states. Collins and Virant fired at Goodson, hitting her four times, Harmon said. Goodson died at the scene.

Members of the board that reviewed the case wrote that Collins' and Virant's actions "were necessary to defend another from death or great bodily harm."

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