Investigation continues in teen's death

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Pensacola Police Department is continuing its investigation into the tragic death of a local teenager.

Chief John W. Mathis said the department's Professional Standards Unit is conducting an administrative review of the incident. He also said the department is cooperating with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement during their investigation, which may take several weeks to complete.

A third investigation into the incident is being done by the Florida Highway Patrol.

"This is a tragic event," Mathis said. "Our intent is to keep events like this from happening in the future. This is not the outcome anyone wanted."

Meanwhile, Officer Jerald Ard, 35, remains on administrative leave. Ard, 35, was on routine patrol around 1:50 a.m. Saturday in the area of T and Cervantes streets when he saw a suspicious man at a construction site. The man, later identified as Victor D. Steen, 17, of Pensacola, was on a bicycle when Ard tried to stop him for questioning.

Steen fled the area on his bicycle and Ard followed in his patrol car, again trying to stop him using verbal commands and blue police lights. Ard also tried unsuccessfully to tase Steen.

During the chase, Ard turned north onto R Street and west into the parking lot of a vacant business. Steen then crashed his bicycle and fell into the path of Ard's vehicle. The cruiser stopped on a curb in the parking lot. Steen died at the scene.

Ard has been employed by the Pensacola Police Department for four years. He is currently assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division.