Police involved accident investigated

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Questions remain unanswered, days after a crash involving a police officer and a man on a bicycle. Witnesses say they saw a man get run over by the officer, right in front of their eyes.

Sharon Kirby went to see a concert at Sluggo's nightclub in Pensacola. She says when she walked outside for some fresh air, she saw the whole thing evolve right then and there.

"I was kind of in shock, it was pretty horrific. We saw cop lights coming from the other direction. We realized there was a bike in front of it, and the guy was going pretty fast on his bike," Kirby remembered.

That chase ended when the teenager turned into an empty parking lot. That's when authorities say Pensacola police officer Jerard Ard tried to tase him. Then the suspect fell in front of Ard's cruiser.

"The guy on the bike swerved into the bank parking lot, and jumped off the bike, or half-stumbled," said Kirby.

Pensacola police say the officer was trying to stop the man because he looked suspicious. When he wouldn't stop, Ard unsuccessfully tried to tase him.

The chase ended when the victim fell in front of the car. Kirby thinks the situation could have ended far differently.

"It was pretty awful, and I think if he had made just a few more different choices, he could have ended the entire situation with better results," Kriby said.

Police used the victim's cell phone to identify him. They have identified him as 17-year-old Victor Damarius Steen.

Several agencies are investigating whether officers' actions were justified.

The officer has been placed on administrative leave while the accident is investigated.