Officer who fired gun during traffic stop ID’d

City police on Friday identified the officer who fired a shot Thursday morning during the pursuit of three people fleeing a traffic stop in Riviera Beach.

Cornelius McGriff, an 11-year member of the Riviera Beach department, is on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation of the shooting, department spokeswoman Rose Anne Brown said.

Officer Aird Cajuste, who did not fire his weapon, is on paid leave as well for his involvement with the incident. He has been with the department since May 2017.

Brown said it is department policy to place officers involved in a shooting on leave while an investigation is conducted.

The single shot was fired while in pursuit of two 19-year-old men and a 17-year-old girl fleeing a traffic stop at the corner of West 13th Street and President Barack Obama Highway. During the chase, one male dropped a pistol on the ground, the report said.

The man reached down to grab the gun and that is when McGriff fired his weapon, police said.

Kelby Parson of Riviera Beach is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, grand theft of a firearm and resisting an officer with violence. He is currently being held pending a $109,000 bond.

Derian Williams, also from Riviera Beach, is charged is burglary and resisting an officer without violence. He is being held on a $6,000 bond.

The female juvenile is charged with fleeing to elude, resisting arrest without violence, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of more than 10 grams of amphetamines with intent to sell, the report said. Authorities said they found what appeared to be 10 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle.